Election Commission Announces Bypolls in Bihar, MP and Gujarat; Polling on July 30

The Election Commission of India has announced by-elections to three Assembly seats in Bihar, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, setting July 30 as polling day and August 3 for counting. The contests will be held in Bankipur, Manjalpur and Datia, three seats that fell vacant for different reasons and now carry distinct political significance in their respective states.

The announcement brings the Model Code of Conduct into immediate effect in the districts where the whole or part of the poll-bound constituencies are located. The code restricts government announcements, use of official machinery for campaigning and other actions that may influence voters until the election process is completed.

Bypolls in Bankipur, Manjalpur and Datia on July 30

According to the schedule issued by the Election Commission, candidates can file nominations until July 13. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be taken up on July 14. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 16. Voting will take place on July 30, followed by counting on August 3.

The Commission said electronic voting machines and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail units will be used at all polling stations. It also said adequate numbers of EVMs and VVPATs have been made available to ensure smooth conduct of polling across the three constituencies.

By-elections are held when an Assembly seat becomes vacant before the end of the House’s term. Such contests do not usually alter the overall character of a state government unless the numbers are close. However, they often work as important political signals, especially when a seat has symbolic value or involves a prominent leader.

Why the Datia bypoll matters in Madhya Pradesh

The Datia Assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh became vacant after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified from the state legislative assembly. The disqualification followed his conviction in a fraud case. His exit has reopened a constituency that had drawn attention in the 2023 Assembly elections because of the candidate he defeated.

Bharti had won Datia in 2023 by defeating senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra. That result was seen as one of the notable reverses for the BJP in an election where the party retained power comfortably in the state.

For the Congress, retaining Datia would help preserve the political message of its 2023 victory over a high-profile BJP figure. For the BJP, the bypoll offers an opportunity to reclaim a seat associated with one of its senior state leaders and restore organisational confidence in the region.

The contest is also expected to test how local issues interact with larger state-level political messaging. Bypolls frequently see lower turnout than general elections, making candidate selection, booth management and local alliances especially important for both major parties.

Vacancies in Bihar and Gujarat

In Bihar, the Bankipur Assembly seat fell vacant after the resignation of BJP President Nitin Nabin. The constituency is politically important because of its urban profile and its location in the state capital region. The bypoll comes at a time when parties in Bihar remain focused on organisation, caste equations and urban voter outreach.

Bankipur has been a closely watched constituency in previous elections because urban seats often produce different campaign priorities from rural regions. Issues such as civic infrastructure, traffic, employment, public services and local governance can shape voter sentiment alongside the broader state and national political narratives.

In Gujarat, the Manjalpur Assembly constituency will vote after the death of BJP MLA Yogeshbhai Narandas Patel. The seat is part of Vadodara’s political landscape, where the BJP has traditionally maintained a strong organisational presence. The party will be looking to retain the seat and avoid any unexpected challenge.

For opposition parties, bypolls in strongholds can still provide space to test local campaigns, identify issues and measure voter response between larger elections. Even when the arithmetic favours the incumbent party, the margin of victory can influence political interpretation after the results.

Model Code of Conduct now in force

With the poll schedule announced, the Model Code of Conduct applies in the relevant districts covering these constituencies. The code is meant to provide a level playing field by limiting new policy announcements, official publicity and actions that may give the ruling party an unfair advantage during the election period.

Election authorities will also oversee campaign expenditure, candidate affidavits, polling arrangements and security preparations. Candidates will be required to follow nomination procedures within the notified dates. Parties are expected to finalise their nominees quickly because the window between the last date of withdrawal and polling is short.

The use of EVMs and VVPATs means voters will be able to verify that their vote has been recorded for the chosen candidate through the paper audit trail slip visible for a brief period inside the polling compartment. VVPAT slips are used for verification as per Election Commission rules.

The July 30 bypolls will not be judged only by who wins the three seats. They will also be read for turnout, margins and the ability of parties to mobilise voters in different political settings. The results on August 3 will give Bihar, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh fresh local verdicts ahead of their next major electoral battles.