Administrative authorities and the Election Commission have finalized all arrangements for the vote counting process in the assembly by-elections held in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. The vote tallying will decide the political outcome for several contesting candidates across key constituencies, with multi-layer security protocols enforced around designated counting facilities.
Strict Security Cover and Preparations in Patna for Bankipur Seat
In Bihar, the vote counting for the Bankipur assembly constituency by-election is set for August 3. Voting in this seat was conducted on July 30, with a total of 25 candidates contesting the election. To ensure a smooth and secure process, the local administration and the Election Commission have completed all necessary arrangements at Kala Bhawan, located inside the AN College campus in Patna. The Electronic Voting Machines containing the cast votes have been kept under a stringent three-tier security umbrella. This security setup includes 25 companies of central paramilitary forces along with personnel from the Bihar Special Armed Police to prevent any security breaches.
Vote Counting and Turnout Details for Madhya Pradesh Datia Constituency
Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh, the counting of votes for the Datia assembly constituency by-election begins on Monday morning. The complete picture and official results are expected to emerge by the afternoon of August 3 once all rounds of counting conclude. Political atmosphere remains charged as both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress have expressed complete confidence regarding their victory. On Sunday, District Collector Swapnil Wankhede personally inspected the central counting venue setup at the Government Polytechnic College. Official figures confirm that voting took place in a peaceful environment, recording an overall voter turnout of 71.40 percent across the constituency.
Suspension and Political Background: Why Datia Held a Byelection
Just ahead of the results announcement on Monday, the Congress party took major organizational action on Sunday night by suspending former MLA Rajendra Bharti from its primary membership. The Datia seat required a by-election specifically due to Bharti losing his legislative assembly membership earlier this year. During the 2023 state assembly elections, Bharti had secured a victory against the then home minister Narottam Mishra by a margin exceeding 7,700 votes. However, in April this year, a Delhi court convicted Bharti in a fraud case and sentenced him to three years of imprisonment. This legal conviction triggered his disqualification from the state assembly, necessitating the fresh by-election in Datia.
