New Delhi, 29 July (H.S.): The Election Commission and respective state administrations have completed all preparations for the by-elections to the Bankipur Assembly seat in Bihar, Datia in Madhya Pradesh, and Manjalpur in Gujarat, scheduled for July 30. Extensive security arrangements have been made across the three states to ensure peaceful and fair polling. Central security forces, additional police personnel, webcasting facilities, CCTV surveillance, drones, Quick Response Teams (QRTs), and micro-observers have been deployed at sensitive polling stations. Voting for all three seats will take place from 7 am to 6 pm, while the counting of votes will be held on August 3.
The by-elections in the three constituencies are being held under different circumstances, but all the seats hold significant political importance. The Bankipur seat in Bihar fell vacant after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin resigned as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) following his election to the Rajya Sabha. The Datia seat in Madhya Pradesh became vacant after the disqualification of former Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti, while the Manjalpur seat in Gujarat fell vacant following the death of senior BJP MLA and former minister Yogesh Patel.
In Bihar’s 182-Bankipur Assembly constituency, a total of 3,79,616 voters will exercise their franchise. The electorate includes nearly two lakh male voters, 1,79,533 female voters, and 23 third-gender voters. A total of 422 polling stations have been set up, including 247 in government buildings and 175 in private buildings. Additionally, 29 mobile polling stations have been arranged for the convenience of voters.
Patna District Magistrate and Returning Officer Kundan Kumar and Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya Sharma said that webcasting facilities will be available at all polling stations. Carrying mobile phones inside polling booths will not be allowed, and arrangements will be made outside for depositing them. Voting will also be permitted on the basis of any one of the 12 alternative photo identity documents approved by the Election Commission.
A total of 40 candidates had filed nominations for the by-election. After scrutiny, 26 nominations were found valid. Following the withdrawal of one candidate, 25 candidates are now in the fray. The main contest is expected to be between BJP’s Neeraj Kumar, Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Rekha Gupta.
In the 2025 Assembly elections, BJP’s Nitin Nabin won the Bankipur seat by securing 98,299 votes (62.66 per cent), defeating RJD’s Rekha Gupta by a margin of 51,936 votes. Rekha Gupta received 46,363 votes (29.55 per cent), while the Jan Suraaj candidate secured 7,717 votes (4.92 per cent). This time, the contest is expected to be more interesting due to BJP fielding a new candidate and Prashant Kishor himself entering the electoral battle.
In Madhya Pradesh’s Datia Assembly constituency, a total of 291 polling stations have been established, of which 233 have been classified as sensitive and 28 as highly sensitive. The constituency has 2,20,410 registered voters, including 1,16,116 male voters, 1,04,284 female voters, and 10 other voters. Besides, 1,372 persons with disabilities, 1,237 senior citizens, and 443 service voters will also participate in the polling process.
A pink polling station and a model polling station have been set up in Datia. Special arrangements, including ramps and wheelchair facilities, have been made for voters with disabilities. A total of 1,280 polling personnel and 215 micro-observers have been deployed for election duties. Twelve interstate check posts have been established along the district borders, where vehicles are being continuously inspected. A 24-hour control room has also been set up for quick resolution of complaints.
District Election Officer and Collector Swapnil Wankhede said that conducting free, fair, and fear-free elections is the administration’s top priority. Superintendent of Police Mayur Khandelwal said that personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Special Armed Force (SAF), district police, and Home Guards will remain deployed across the district.
A total of 21 candidates are contesting from the Datia seat. In the 2023 Assembly elections, Congress leader Rajendra Bharti defeated senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra by 7,742 votes. The by-election was necessitated after Bharti’s Assembly membership was cancelled following his conviction in a fraud case.
Meanwhile, polling will also be held on July 30 for the Manjalpur Assembly seat in Vadodara district of Gujarat. The constituency has a total of 2,19,494 voters, including 1,11,645 male voters, 1,07,847 female voters, and two third-gender voters. A total of 260 polling stations have been established at 62 locations.
All polling stations will have basic facilities such as ramps, drinking water, electricity, and toilets. Two polling stations will be managed entirely by women employees, while two will be operated by employees with disabilities. Five model polling stations have also been set up. CCTV surveillance and 100 per cent webcasting arrangements will be available at all booths. For the first time, facilities to deposit mobile phones outside polling stations have been introduced.
Considering the possibility of rainfall, waterproof tents, temporary shelters, queue management teams, and water drainage pumps have been arranged at polling stations located in waterlogging-prone areas. Presiding officers will provide voter turnout updates every two hours through the Election Commission of India’s application.
According to election officials, 107 voters exercised their franchise through the home voting facility conducted on July 22 and 23, including 90 senior citizens. The Indian Vidya Bhavan in Makarpura has been designated as the dispatch centre, receiving centre, strong room, and counting centre. For election monitoring, nine flying squads, three static surveillance teams, two video surveillance teams, and one anti-defacement team have been deployed.
District Collector Anil Dhamelia said that mobile phones will not be allowed inside polling stations. Voters will be able to cast their votes using any one of the 12 alternative identity documents approved by the Election Commission, while registered NRI voters will have to present their original passports. Wheelchairs and volunteers have also been arranged for senior citizens and voters with disabilities.
The Manjalpur seat became vacant following the death of senior BJP MLA and former minister Yogesh Patel. After scrutiny and withdrawal of nominations, the main contest has been reduced to a direct fight between the BJP and Congress. BJP has fielded Satish (Satyendra) Patel, while Congress has nominated Bhikha Rabari.
Political parties are closely watching these by-elections across the three states. While the Bankipur seat in Bihar is considered a matter of prestige for the BJP, Datia is witnessing a direct contest between the BJP and Congress. In Gujarat, the BJP faces the challenge of retaining its traditional stronghold in Manjalpur. Therefore, the voting on July 30 and the results on August 3 are expected to provide significant political indications for all three states.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
