Bypolls – Voting Underway Across Three States as Parties Eye Key Assembly Wins
Bypolls – Voting commenced on Thursday for Assembly by-elections in Bihar’s Bankipur, Madhya Pradesh’s Datia and Gujarat’s Manjalpur constituencies, with polling taking place peacefully at designated booths. Election officials have scheduled the counting of votes for August 3, when the outcome of all three contests will be declared.
Senior BJP Leaders Cast Votes in Bankipur
Several senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders exercised their franchise in the Bankipur Assembly constituency in Patna. BJP MP Vivek Thakur and veteran party leader CP Thakur cast their votes at the Bihar State Library polling station located on Dak Bungalow Chauraha Road.
After voting, Vivek Thakur expressed confidence that the BJP would secure a comfortable victory in the constituency. He said the party was receiving strong public support and claimed that recent political developments at the national level had further strengthened the confidence of young voters. Referring to the parliamentary proceedings held a day earlier, he alleged that opposition leaders had attempted to obstruct legislative business but maintained that voters would not be influenced by such politics.
When asked about his immediate plans following polling, Vivek Thakur briefly stated that he was leaving for New Delhi.
CP Thakur Expresses Confidence in Party’s Performance
Senior BJP leader CP Thakur said members of his family had also participated in the voting process and reiterated his belief that the party would achieve a decisive victory in the by-election. He remarked that his family has consistently supported the same political party over the years and highlighted that they had been voting at the same polling booth in Patna for nearly three decades.
He also observed that the city had witnessed significant changes over the years while emphasizing the importance of voter participation in the democratic process.
Polling Also Held in Datia and Manjalpur
Apart from Bihar, voting also began for the Assembly by-elections in Datia, Madhya Pradesh, and Manjalpur in Gujarat. Polling stations across both constituencies opened for eligible voters as election authorities oversaw the voting process.
These by-elections are being closely watched as they will determine representation in three constituencies that became vacant due to different circumstances.
Why the Bankipur Seat Went to By-Election
The Bankipur Assembly constituency required a fresh election after BJP leader Nitin Nabin resigned from the Assembly following his election to the Rajya Sabha. In the 2025 Bihar Assembly election, Nabin had retained the seat by defeating Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate Rekha Kumari with a margin of 51,936 votes.
The BJP has nominated Neeraj Kumar Sinha for the bypoll. Janata Dal (United) leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appealed to voters to support the NDA candidate, stating that every vote would contribute to maintaining the state’s development momentum.
BJP national president Nitin Nabin also urged voters to back Sinha, describing him as a committed party worker who had progressed through the party’s organisational structure over the years.
On the other hand, Leader of Opposition in Bihar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav voiced confidence in his party’s prospects, asserting that the RJD was well-positioned to win the Bankipur by-election.
Datia and Manjalpur Contests Draw Attention
In Madhya Pradesh, the Datia Assembly seat became vacant after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified on April 2 under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
The BJP has fielded Ashutosh Tiwari, while the Congress has nominated Ghanshyam Singh. Tiwari replaced former state Home Minister Narottam Mishra as the BJP candidate. Mishra had represented the constituency for three consecutive terms between 2008 and 2018 before losing the 2023 Assembly election.
Meanwhile, Gujarat’s Manjalpur Assembly constituency went to a by-election following the death of sitting BJP MLA Yogeshbhai Narandas Patel. Voters there are also participating in polling to elect a new representative.
With polling now underway in all three constituencies, attention will shift to the counting of votes on August 3, when the results are expected to reveal the political impact of these important Assembly by-elections.