What Triggered the Bypolls in Bankipur, Datia and Manjalpur?

Counting of votes is underway for the Bankipur, Datia and Manjalpur Assembly by-elections on August 3. Early trends from the Election Commission showed Prashant Kishor leading in Bankipur, while Congress’ Ghanshyam Singh was ahead in Datia in the initial rounds. In Manjalpur, BJP candidate Satendrabhai “Satish” Patel had established a substantial lead. The figures are provisional and can change until counting is completed.

The Election Commission had scheduled the by-elections to fill vacancies in the three state Assemblies, with polling held on July 30.   But why did these three seats fall vacant?

Bankipur: Nitin Nabin’s move to Rajya Sabha

The Bankipur seat in Bihar became vacant after BJP leader Nitin Nabin resigned from the Bihar Legislative Assembly on March 30, 2026. Nabin had been elected to the Rajya Sabha, prompting his transition from state politics to Parliament and his resignation as Bankipur MLA. He had represented the constituency for years and his exit opened the way for the by-election.  

Datia: Rajendra Bharti’s conviction and disqualification

The circumstances in Datia, Madhya Pradesh, are different. Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was convicted on April 1, 2026, in a case involving cheating and forgery of bank records. According to the Delhi High Court judgment, the case concerned allegations that, while chairman of a cooperative agriculture and rural development bank, Bharti influenced officials to extend a ₹10 lakh fixed deposit from three years to 15 years, benefiting a trust whose president was his mother.  

Bharti was convicted of offences including criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment on April 2. The conviction resulted in his disqualification as an MLA under election law, leaving Datia vacant and triggering the bypoll. The Delhi High Court later suspended his sentence but refused to stay his conviction.  

Manjalpur: Yogesh Patel dies after prolonged illness

In Manjalpur, Gujarat, the by-election was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Yogesh Patel. The 79-year-old veteran politician died in Vadodara on June 2, 2026, following a prolonged illness. He had been suffering from age-related health problems and had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital. Reports also said he had been dealing with a heart-related ailment.  

Patel was an eight-time MLA and had served as a legislator for 36 years. His death left the Manjalpur seat vacant, necessitating a fresh election.  

Thus, the three bypolls were triggered by three very different circumstances,  Nitin Nabin’s resignation after moving to the Rajya Sabha in Bankipur, Rajendra Bharti’s disqualification following a criminal conviction in Datia, and Yogesh Patel’s death after a prolonged illness in Manjalpur.