Counting of votes for the Assembly by-elections in Datia (Madhya Pradesh), Bankipur (Bihar) and Manjalpur (Gujarat) began on Monday morning amid elaborate security arrangements. The results are expected to be declared later in the day.
The bypolls, held on July 30, are being closely watched as they are expected to have political significance for the major parties in the three states.
In Datia constituency of Madhya Pradesh, the contest is primarily between BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari and Congress nominee Kunwar Ghanshyam Singh. The constituency recorded the highest voter turnout among the three bypolls at 71.42 per cent.
The by-election is also being viewed as the first electoral test for newly appointed BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal. The constituency has 2,20,400 eligible voters, with polling conducted across 291 polling stations.
In Bankipur, counting is underway at Kala Bhawan in Patna under a three-layer security cover. A total of 25 candidates are in the fray. The by-election has witnessed a triangular contest between BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, and RJD nominee Rekha Gupta.
The bypoll was necessitated after former MLA Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha, vacating the Assembly seat. The constituency has 3,79,616 eligible voters, while 34.31 per cent voter turnout was recorded during polling. Fourteen companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed for security.
In Manjalpur Assembly constituency of Gujarat’s Vadodara district, counting is also in progress. The bypoll was necessitated following the death of veteran BJP MLA and former minister Yogesh Patel, who represented the constituency for eight consecutive terms.
The contest is primarily between BJP candidate Satish Patel and Congress candidate and former minister Bhikhabhai Rabari. The constituency recorded a voter turnout of 37.50 per cent. It has 2,19,494 eligible voters, including 1,11,645 men, 1,07,847 women and two third-gender voters.
Election authorities have put in place elaborate security arrangements at all counting centres. Political parties are closely monitoring the counting trends as results are expected later in the day.
(inputs from agencies)
