Bihar: Bankipur bypoll records 34.16% voter turnout
Patna, July 30
The high-stakes assembly bye-election in Bihar's Bankipur-182 constituency concluded with a moderate turnout, recording approximately 34.16 per cent total voter participation on Thursday, according to the Election Commission.
The Bankipur seat fell vacant after BJP leader Nitin Nabin resigned as MLA following his election to the Rajya Sabha. The BJP has fielded Neeraj Kumar Sinha, while Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor has thrown his hat in the contest.
Voting concluded at 6:00 pm, and the counting of votes for the Bankipur segment, alongside bye-elections in Gujarat's Manjalpur and Madhya Pradesh's Datia, is scheduled for August 3.
Amid the high-stakes electoral battle, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh earlier cast his vote at the polling station at Prathamik Vidyalay Chakaram and emphasised the democratic significance of the exercise.
"Any election is a celebration of democracy, and voters should participate in this festival with great enthusiasm. That is why I have come straight from Delhi to cast my vote and will head back immediately after doing so," Singh told reporters.
Addressing political dynamics in the state, the senior leader launched a sharp critique against Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, dismissing his electoral relevance.
"Prashant Kishor made a lot of tall claims during the last assembly elections as well. There is no prospect or hope for him this time either. He keeps indulging in fanciful daydreams," Singh stated.
Furthermore, Vadodara's Manjalpur seat recorded a total voter turnout of 37.50 per cent, according to official ECI trends.
Manjalpur is one of the three assembly constituencies where by-elections took place alongside Datia in Madhya Pradesh and Bankipur in Bihar.
The Manjalpur seat fell vacant following the demise of sitting BJP MLA Yogeshbhai Narandas Patel, who had won the seat in the past three elections. The main contest in the Manjalpur by-election is between Satish Patel of the BJP and Bhikhabhai Rabari of the Congress.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, this low turnout is worrying. In a democracy, every vote counts. Lalan Singh coming from Delhi to vote shows commitment, but what about the common man? Maybe the heat or lack of awareness kept people at home. Hope the EC takes steps to improve this in future elections. 🇮🇳
Prashant Kishor is trying to build something new in Bihar politics, but it's a tough road against the BJP and RJD. The 34% turnout might reflect that people are still undecided or uninterested. Let's wait for counting day, but I'm not too hopeful for Jan Suraaj.
Lalan Singh's comment about Prashant Kishor being a "daydreamer" is harsh but fair. Kishor made big claims in the last assembly elections too, and the results were disappointing. BJP seems to have a strong grip in Bankipur. Let's see if Neeraj Sinha can hold the seat.
Low turnout is not just a Bihar problem—Manjalpur in Gujarat also saw only 37.5%. This is a worrying trend across the country. People need to realise that bypolls matter too. Maybe the EC should consider making voting day a public holiday to boost participation. 🗳️
I appreciate that Lalan Singh made the effort to vote despite his busy schedule, but the 34% figure shows that political enthusiasm in Bankipur is low. Maybe the candidates need to connect more with the youth. Prashant Kishor should focus on local issues rather than just being anti-establishment.