The counting of votes for crucial byelections in three BJP-ruled states—Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat—is underway, with the results expected to carry significant political implications for the ruling party. The bypolls come amid heightened political tensions following nationwide student protests against the Narendra Modi government.
Polling was held on Thursday in Bihar’s Bankipur, Madhya Pradesh’s Datia, and Gujarat’s Manjalpur constituencies. Among the three, the Bankipur contest has attracted the most attention, with Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor’s entry into the electoral battle posing a challenge to the BJP in its traditional stronghold.
The Bankipur bypoll was necessitated after BJP national president Nitin Nabin vacated the seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha. The party has fielded its youth wing leader Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its candidate. While Kishor has emerged as the BJP’s main challenger, a total of 26 candidates are in the fray. The seat has remained with the saffron party since 1995, when it was known as Patna West.
According to the Election Commission, voter turnout in Bankipur stood at 34.24 per cent, a decline of more than seven percentage points from the 41.45 per cent recorded during the November assembly elections last year.
The contest is being closely watched as Bihar continues to face political fallout from protests over the NEET paper leak. Demonstrations had turned violent in several places, including Patna, leading to police baton charges and the use of tear gas. The agitation, along with the government’s handling of the protests, has become a key issue in the bypoll.
The developments have put the BJP on the defensive in one of its long-held constituencies, with Prashant Kishor seeking to capitalise on public anger over the NEET controversy. Ahead of the election, the Bihar government announced the withdrawal of cases filed against protesters involved in the agitation and the release of those arrested during the demonstrations.
However, the controversy remains alive, with opposition parties stepping up attacks on the government over allegations that police personnel used an AK-47 rifle while dispersing student protesters in Siwan.
In Madhya Pradesh’s Datia, the bypoll has turned into a direct contest between BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari and Congress nominee Ghanshyam Singh. The election was necessitated after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified under provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
In the 2023 assembly elections, Bharti defeated former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who had represented the seat for three consecutive terms between 2008 and 2018.
In Gujarat’s Manjalpur constituency, the contest is a direct face-off between BJP candidate Satish Govindbhai Patel and Congress nominee Bhikhabhai Rabari. Patel is a former Vadodara Municipal Corporation councillor, while Rabari is the Gujarat Congress vice-president and a former minister.
The Manjalpur seat fell vacant following the death of sitting BJP MLA Yogeshbhai Narandas Patel, who had represented the constituency for three consecutive terms.
