Bypoll Results 2026: Counting Underway in Bankipur, Manjalpur, and Datia

Counting began at 8 AM IST for crucial assembly by-elections across three states on August 3, 2026. In Bihar, the Bankipur seat is the center of attention as it marks the electoral debut of poll strategist Prashant Kishor. In Gujarat, counting is underway for the Manjalpur constituency, while Madhya Pradesh's Datia assembly seat also sees its fate being decided today. Security has been significantly tightened at all counting centers to prevent any untoward incidents as early trends begin to emerge from the electronic voting machines.

These bypolls were necessitated by a variety of legal and health-related events earlier this year. The Manjalpur seat became vacant following the death of veteran BJP MLA and former minister Yogesh Patel on June 2, after a prolonged illness. In Datia, the election was called after a Delhi court sentenced Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti to three years of imprisonment in a cheating case, leading to his disqualification. Bankipur recorded a modest turnout of 34.30% during the July 30 polling, while Manjalpur saw a slightly higher participation rate of 37.5%.

The results of these elections will serve as a litmus test for regional political dynamics and the viability of third-front challengers. For Prashant Kishor, a victory in Bankipur would establish his Jan Suraaj platform as a credible electoral force in Bihar. He has already filed formal complaints alleging that police powers were misused to intimidate voters during the polling phase. The BJP and Congress are also closely monitoring these outcomes to gauge public sentiment ahead of the next major state assembly cycles across India.