Polling Underway In Bankipur, Datia, Manjalpur As BJP, Congress And Jan Suraaj Face Key Electoral Test

New Delhi: Voting is currently underway for Assembly bypolls in three politically significant constituencies in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Voters are casting their votes to elect new MLAs in Bihar's Bankipur, Madhya Pradesh's Datia, and Gujarat's Manjalpur. The counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on August 3. 

For the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, these elections are seen as a crucial indicator of future political strategy and public support. 

Why is Bankipur bypoll important?

The Bankipur constituency in Bihar has become the most talked-about contest in this by-election. This seat has long been considered a stronghold of the BJP. Previously, this seat was represented by BJP leader Nitin Nabin, but he vacated the Assembly seat after becoming a Rajya Sabha member. This time, the BJP has fielded Neeraj Kumar Sinha. Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has nominated Rekha Gupta. 

The candidacy of Prashant Kishor, founder of Jan Suraj, is generating the most discussion. Political parties and analysts are closely monitoring Kishor's performance as he contests this seat for the first time. It is believed that this election could impact  the political landscape of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. 

It is worth noting that the BJP had originally nominated Abhishek Kumar Sinha, who is a close aide of Nitin Nabin, but after his withdrawal on July 10, the party gave the ticket to Neeraj Kumar Sinha at the last minute.

What about Datia?

The Datia assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh is a direct contest between the BJP and the Congress. The seat fell vacant after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti resigned from his post. The by-election was necessitated by a court sentencing him to three years in prison in a fraud case.

The BJP has nominated Ashutosh Tiwari for this seat, while the Congress has expressed confidence in Ghanshyam Singh, who is associated with the former royal family of the region, and the announcement of the BJP candidate was met with discontent among some local party leaders. Despite this, both parties have put their full strength into the election campaign, and now all eyes are on the final results.

Is there a close contest in Manjalpur seat?

The Manjalpur assembly seat in Gujarat fell vacant after the death of BJP MLA Yogesh Patel. The BJP has nominated Satish Patel for the by-election, while the Congress has fielded party's Gujarat Vice President and former state minister Bhikhabhai Rabari. The election campaign showcased both local issues and organizational strength. It is expected that the contest here will be a close one, and the result will send important messages for both parties.

Why are all eyes on these by-elections?

While only three seats are at stake in terms of numbers, but they hold immense political significance. For the BJP, retaining traditional seats like Bankipur and Manjalpur will signal organizational strength. Winning the Datia seat will help the party regain the seat it lost in 2023. On the other hand, the Congress wants to maintain its hold in Datia while also sending a political message by performing well in Bihar and Gujarat.