ECI announces by-elections for assembly seats in Bihar, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh; polling on July 30
New Delhi, July 6
The Election Commission of India on Monday issued a formal notification for the conduct of by-elections to three key Assembly constituencies across Bihar, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. According to the commission, polling for these seats is scheduled to be held on July 30.
The bye-elections will be conducted for the 182-Bankipur constituency in Bihar, the 145-Manjalpur constituency in Gujarat, and the 22-Datia constituency in Madhya Pradesh. As per the schedule released by the ECI, the process will begin with the filing of nominations, for which the last date has been fixed as July 13.
The scrutiny of the nomination papers will take place on July 14, while candidates wishing to withdraw their names from the contest can do so by July 16. The commission stated that the voting will take place on July 30, from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and the entire election process is mandated to be completed by August 4, 2026.
In Bihar, the bye-election for the Bankipur seat was necessitated following the resignation of the sitting member, Nitin Nabin, on March 30, 2026. The seat has remained vacant since his departure from the state legislative assembly.
In Gujarat, the vacancy in the Manjalpur Assembly constituency arose following the unfortunate demise of Yogeshbhai Narandas Patel on June 2, 2026. The ECI has called for the bye-poll to fill the seat for the remainder of the assembly's term.
Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh, the Datia seat became vacant due to the disqualification of Rajendra Bharti on April 2, 2026. The notification cited that the disqualification was under the provisions of Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Article 191(1)(e) of the Constitution of India.
The respective state governments have published the ECI's notification in their extraordinary gazettes to inform the general public and stakeholders.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Bankipur has been without an MLA since March—that's over three months. I understand due process, but people in the constituency deserve representation soon. Hope the campaign focuses on local issues like water and roads. 🏛️
Gujarat's Manjalpur seat is a crucial one. The late Yogeshbhai Patel did great work there—I hope the parties choose candidates who can carry forward his legacy. Elections are a tribute to democracy. 🇮🇳
While by-elections are necessary, I wish the ECI would also focus on reducing the influence of money and muscle power in these smaller polls. The July 30 date is fine, but ground-level preparation matters more. 📅
Datia in Madhya Pradesh—interesting contest ahead! The disqualification of the previous MLA under the Representation of the People Act should remind all politicians of the importance of integrity. Let’s see who steps up. 🌟
Three states, three diverse reasons for by-elections. The ECI’s transparency with the gazette notifications is commendable. Voting from 7 AM to 6 PM gives ample time—hope the election staff is well-protected from the summer heat! ☀️
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.