The Election Commission of India has declared by-elections for three vacant Assembly seats in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. The polling is set for July 30, with vote counting on August 3, aiming to conclude the process by August 4. The constituencies facing by-elections are Bankipur in Bihar, Datia in Madhya Pradesh, and Manjalpur in Gujarat.
These vacancies occurred due to Nitin Nabin’s resignation in Bankipur, the disqualification of Rajendra Bharti in Datia, Madhya Pradesh, and the passing of Yogeshbhai Patel in Manjalpur, Gujarat. The election schedule includes the issuance of gazette notification on July 6, nomination filing until July 13, scrutiny of nominations on July 14, and the deadline for withdrawal of candidature on July 16. Polling will take place on July 30, and the votes will be tallied on August 3.
The Election Commission confirmed the finalization of electoral rolls for the three constituencies after the Special Summary Revision or Special Intensive Revision process. The rolls were last updated on September 30, 2025, for Bankipur; February 21, 2026, for Datia; and February 17, 2026, for Manjalpur. Continuous updates to the rolls will continue until the nomination deadline, adhering to the qualifying date.
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units will be deployed at all polling stations, as stated by the Commission. Voter identification will primarily rely on the Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), with other government-issued identity documents like Aadhaar, passports, driving licenses, PAN cards, and MGNREGA job cards also accepted for voting purposes.
The Model Code of Conduct has been enforced in the districts covering the three Assembly constituencies following the election schedule announcement. Candidates with criminal records are mandated to disclose details of pending cases in newspapers and on television thrice during the campaign period. Political parties fielding such candidates must also publicize their criminal backgrounds and reasons for selection through various platforms.
