ECI issues notification for Gujarat's Manjalpur Assembly by-election; polling on July 30
New Delhi/Vadodara, July 6 The Election Commission of India on Monday issued the official gazette notification for the by-election to Gujarat's 145-Manjalpur Assembly constituency, formally commencing the election process to fill the vacancy created following the demise of sitting BJP MLA Yogesh Patel.
According to the notification, the seat became vacant on June 2 following Patel's death.
Exercising its powers under Section 150(1) and Sections 30 and 56 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission has called upon voters in the Manjalpur Assembly constituency to elect a new representative before August 4, 2026.
The notification fixes July 13 as the last date for filing nomination papers. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on July 14, while candidates will have until July 16 to withdraw their nominations.
Polling, if required, will be held on July 30 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., and the election process is scheduled to be completed by August 4.
The notification, issued by Election Commission Secretary Binod Kumar, formally sets the statutory timetable for the by-election after the Commission announced the poll schedule earlier this month.
The Manjalpur by-election is one of three Assembly by-elections being conducted by the Election Commission.
The other two are in Bihar's Bankipur constituency, which fell vacant after Nitin Nabin resigned as BJP MLA following his elevation to the Rajya Sabha, and Madhya Pradesh's Datia constituency, where the seat became vacant after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified following his conviction in a bank scam case.
The bypolls are being held to fill these vacancies in accordance with the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
The Manjalpur seat has been represented by senior BJP leader Patel, an eight-time MLA.
The constituency, located in Vadodara district, is expected to witness a closely watched contest as political parties prepare to announce their candidates ahead of the nomination deadline.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Another by-election, another chance for democracy to work! 😊 But I'm curious about the turnout. In urban constituencies like Manjalpur, people often don't vote because they think their vote doesn't matter. July 30 is a weekday, so I hope the Election Commission ensures proper facilities for working professionals to cast their votes.
The Election Commission should also focus on the other two bypolls in Bihar and MP. All three are important, but Bankipur in Bihar will be closely watched given Nitin Nabin's resignation. In Manjalpur, the BJP will probably retain the seat, but let's see if Congress or AAP fields a strong candidate. The scrutiny and withdrawal dates seem tight—just 3 days between them.
Yogesh Patel ji was an eight-time MLA—that's incredible dedication. But I hope the by-election isn't just a formality. The opposition parties need to work hard to give voters a choice. In Gujarat, we often see lackluster campaigns in by-elections. Let the candidates debate real issues like water scarcity, road infrastructure, and education in Vadodara. 🙏
From an outsider's perspective, the speed at which the Election Commission works here is impressive. The notification came out on July 6, and polling is on July 30—very efficient timeline. In my country, by-elections often take months. Good to see India's democratic machinery in action, especially in a crucial state like Gujarat.
One small critique: Why are by-elections always scheduled on weekdays? July 30 is a
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.