Polling is underway for Assembly by-elections in Bankipur (Bihar), Datia (Madhya Pradesh), and Manjalpur (Gujarat) under elaborate security arrangements, with election authorities putting in place extensive measures to ensure free, fair and peaceful voting. Counting of votes will take place on August 3.
According to the Election Commission, early voter turnout till 9 a.m. stood at 12.94 per cent in Datia (Madhya Pradesh), 6.06 per cent in Manjalpur (Gujarat) and 4.61 per cent in Bankipur (Bihar).
Ahead of polling, authorities said that security had been strengthened across all three constituencies and polling was being conducted in accordance with the Election Commission’s guidelines. Campaigning for the bypolls concluded on July 28.
Bankipur: Three-cornered contest
The Bankipur Assembly by-election in Patna has emerged as the most closely watched contest, with 25 candidates in the fray. The main contest is between BJP’s Neeraj Kumar Sinha, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, and RJD candidate Rekha Gupta.
The bypoll was necessitated after former MLA Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha, vacating the Assembly seat. A total of 3,79,616 voters are eligible to cast their votes across 422 polling stations, where 14 companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed along with extensive surveillance teams and sector officers.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary appealed to voters to participate enthusiastically, giving the slogan “First vote, then refreshments.” Senior BJP leaders C.P. Thakur and Vivek Thakur, along with JD(U) MLA Shyam Rajak, also exercised their franchise. Meanwhile, the BJP submitted a complaint to the Returning Officer alleging attempts at bogus voting by Jan Suraaj workers. Election authorities have not officially confirmed the allegation.
Datia: Direct BJP-Congress fight
In the Datia Assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh, BJP’s Ashutosh Tiwari is facing Congress veteran Kunwar Ghanshyam Singh in a direct contest.
The seat fell vacant after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified following his conviction in a bank scam case.
According to election officials, 2,20,400 voters are eligible to vote at 291 polling stations. Security has been intensified with the deployment of 1,422 personnel from 16 companies, including the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Sensitive booths are under additional surveillance, while polling is being monitored through live webcasting from the district control room. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a rain alert for the region, voters have been advised to carry umbrellas or raincoats while visiting polling stations.
Manjalpur: BJP-Congress contest
In Manjalpur Assembly constituency in Gujarat’s Vadodara district, BJP has fielded Satish Patel against Congress candidate and former minister Bhikhabhai Rabari.
The by-election was necessitated following the death of veteran BJP MLA Yogesh Patel, who represented the constituency for eight terms and also served as Gujarat Assembly’s pro tem Speaker in 2022.
The constituency has 2,19,494 eligible voters, including 1,11,645 men, 1,07,847 women and two third-gender voters. Polling is taking place at 260 polling stations across 62 locations, all equipped with ramps, drinking water, electricity and toilet facilities. Two polling stations are being managed entirely by women, two by persons with disabilities, while five have been designated as model polling stations. Authorities have also arranged live webcasting and CCTV monitoring at every booth.
Election officials said voters without an Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) can still cast their vote by producing any of the 13 alternative identity documents approved by the Election Commission, including Aadhaar, passport, PAN card, driving licence, bank passbook with photograph and other notified documents.
(Inputs from IANS)
