New Delhi: Voting for by-elections across three assembly seats in the country concluded on Thursday evening. Political analysts are now busy calculating the arithmetic of victory and defeat, while party workers and supporters are making confident claims about their preferred candidates’ wins. All eyes are now on August 3, when the results for these three seats will be declared.
Voter turnout stood at 34.30% for the Bankipur seat in Bihar, 70% for the Datia seat in Madhya Pradesh, and 37.50% for the Manjalpur seat in Gujarat. These turnout figures were significantly lower compared to the general elections. Whether the ruling party benefits from the low turnout or the opposition manages to clinch victory will only become clear once the results are out.
Low Turnout in Bankipur
Bihar’s Bankipur seat was the most talked-about constituency in these by-elections; the seat had fallen vacant following the resignation of BJP’s Nitin Navin. Voting on Thursday saw a turnout of only 34.30%, compared to 41.39% in the 2025 assembly elections. Overall, the vote count was approximately 7% lower than in the general elections.
This urban seat recorded its lowest-ever voter turnout. According to the Election Commission, 26 candidates were in the fray, though the main contest appears to be between the BJP’s Neeraj Kumar Sinha and Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor. RJD candidate Rekha Gupta appears to be making it a three-way contest.
Dip in Voting Pattern in Datia
Madhya Pradesh’s Datia assembly seat also remained a focal point during the by-elections. This constituency is considered to have a mix of rural and semi-urban areas. Despite the scorching heat, voters displayed remarkable enthusiasm at the polling stations. Driven by the active participation of women and the elderly, the turnout reached 70%. This is 10.20% lower than the 80.20% turnout recorded during the general elections. In 2023, the Datia seat saw a change in outcome, with BJP stalwart Narottam Mishra facing defeat.
Voter turnout in the Manjalpur constituency
Gujarat’s Manjalpur constituency recorded a 22.65% drop in voter turnout. Approximately 37.50% voting was recorded in the by-election, compared to 60.15% in the 2022 assembly elections, marking a decline of 22.65%.
What does the drop in voting signify?
Essentially, voters tend to take by-elections less seriously than general elections. There is often no perception among the public that this election will bring about significant change. Typically, the outcome of a by-election does not determine the fall or formation of a government; consequently, voter turnout in by-elections tends to be lower.
It is frequently observed that low turnout favours the ruling party or a party with a strong cadre presence at the polling booths. The ruling party generally has a higher chance of winning by-elections. Voters often prefer to place their trust in the candidate of the incumbent government, viewing them as the key to future development and the continuation of various public welfare schemes.
