High-Stakes Assembly Bypolls Underway In Bihar, MP And Gujarat As Parties Eye Key Victories

New Delhi: Voting is in progress for Assembly bypolls in the politically significant constituencies of Bankipur in Bihar, Datia in Madhya Pradesh and Manjalpur in Gujarat. Electors are choosing their new MLAs, with vote counting and the announcement of results set for August 3.

The elections hold significant political importance for the BJP and the Congress, as the outcome is expected to gauge voter sentiment and influence the parties' strategies ahead of upcoming electoral battles.

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 the 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 the 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, 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.