The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the schedule for the Assembly By-Elections 2026 in three key constituencies across Bihar, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. Voting for all three seats will take place on July 30, while the counting of votes is scheduled for August 3.
The announcement has triggered political activity in the affected constituencies as major parties prepare for another electoral contest ahead of upcoming state and national political developments.
Three Seats to Go to Polls
According to the Election Commission, the Assembly By-Elections 2026 will be conducted in the Datia Assembly constituency of Madhya Pradesh, the Manjalpur Assembly constituency of Gujarat, and the Bankipur Assembly constituency of Bihar.
The Datia seat became vacant after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified from the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly following his conviction in a fraud case. Bharti had notably defeated senior BJP leader and former state Home Minister Narottam Mishra in the 2023 Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, the Manjalpur seat in Gujarat fell vacant following the death of BJP MLA Yogeshbhai Narandas Patel. In Bihar, the Bankipur constituency requires a by-election after BJP President Nitin Nabin resigned from the assembly seat.
Election Schedule Released
The Election Commission has outlined a detailed timetable for the Assembly By-Elections 2026. The last date for filing nomination papers is July 13, while scrutiny of nominations will take place on July 14.
Candidates will have until July 16 to withdraw their nominations. Polling will be held on July 30, and the results will be declared on August 3 following the counting of votes.
The schedule provides political parties with a limited campaign window as they prepare to contest these important seats.
Model Code of Conduct Comes Into Effect
With the announcement of the Assembly By-Elections 2026, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force immediately in the districts where the affected constituencies are located.
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The code will remain in effect until the completion of the election process and is intended to ensure free and fair polling by regulating government announcements, political campaigns, and election-related activities.
EVMs and VVPATs to Be Used
The Election Commission confirmed that all polling stations participating in the Assembly By-Elections 2026 will use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) along with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems.
The commission stated that adequate numbers of EVMs and VVPATs have already been arranged and all necessary measures are being taken to ensure smooth and transparent polling.
Officials also emphasized that election staff and security personnel will be deployed as required to conduct the voting process efficiently.
Political Significance of the By-Polls
Although only three constituencies are involved, the Assembly By-Elections 2026 are expected to attract considerable political attention. The contests will be closely watched as indicators of voter sentiment in Bihar, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
For the BJP and Congress, the by-polls present an opportunity to strengthen their political position, while regional leaders will seek to use the elections to build momentum ahead of future electoral battles.
The Election Commission’s announcement has set the stage for the Assembly By-Elections 2026, with voting scheduled for July 30 and results due on August 3. As political parties begin candidate selection and campaign preparations, all eyes will be on Datia, Manjalpur, and Bankipur to see how voters shape the outcome of these crucial by-polls.