Counting of votes is underway for the high-profile Assembly by-elections in Bankipur (Bihar), Datia (Madhya Pradesh), and Manjalpur (Gujarat), with political parties closely watching the outcome. Polling for the three constituencies was held on July 30, and counting commenced at 8 a.m. under tight security, beginning with postal ballots before Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes.
The bypolls are being seen as important political tests for the BJP and opposition parties, with each constituency presenting a unique electoral contest.
Bankipur: Spotlight on Prashant Kishor’s Electoral Debut
The Bankipur by-election in Bihar has attracted national attention because it marks the first electoral contest of Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor. He is facing BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha and RJD’s Rekha Gupta in a closely watched three-cornered contest.
Early counting trends indicated that Prashant Kishor was leading, making the constituency one of the most closely followed races of the day. Bankipur has traditionally been considered a BJP stronghold, and the final result could have significant political implications ahead of future elections in Bihar.
Datia: BJP Looks to Retain Stronghold
In Madhya Pradesh’s Datia, the bypoll was necessitated after the disqualification of former Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti following his conviction in a criminal case.
The principal contest is between BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari and Congress nominee Ghanshyam Singh. Early trends showed Ashutosh Tiwari leading by over a thousand votes after the initial rounds of counting, though the final outcome is yet to be declared.
Manjalpur: Key Contest in Gujarat
In Manjalpur, Gujarat, vote counting is also underway under extensive security arrangements.
The constituency is considered politically significant for the BJP, and the result is expected to indicate the party’s continued electoral strength in the state. While counting continues, officials have not yet declared a final result.
Tight Security Arrangements
Election authorities have implemented multi-layer security at all counting centres. Postal ballots are being counted first, followed by EVM votes in successive rounds. CCTV surveillance, central security personnel, and election observers have been deployed to ensure a transparent counting process.
Political Significance
Although only three Assembly seats are at stake, the bypolls carry considerable political importance:
- Bankipur is being viewed as a key test of Prashant Kishor’s newly launched Jan Suraaj Party.
- Datia will indicate whether the BJP can retain one of its traditional strongholds in Madhya Pradesh.
- Manjalpur is expected to reflect the BJP’s organisational strength in Gujarat.
Results Expected Later Today
Counting is continuing across all three constituencies, with official results expected after all rounds of counting are completed. Political parties are monitoring every round closely as the outcomes could influence their strategies ahead of upcoming electoral contests.
