Overview
- The Election Commission on Monday issued notifications and fixed timetables: nominations for the three assembly bypolls close on July 13, Rajya Sabha nominations close on July 14, polling for the three Rajya Sabha vacancies is set for July 24, and assembly polling is set for July 30.
- The three assembly vacancies arose for separate reasons: Bankipur (Bihar) after BJP leader Nitin Nabin resigned on election to the Rajya Sabha, Manjalpur (Gujarat) after the death of eight‑time BJP MLA Yogeshbhai Narandas Patel, and Datia (Madhya Pradesh) after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified following a conviction.
- Bypolls for the three West Bengal Rajya Sabha seats follow the resignations of Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik and are widely reported to leave the BJP with the legislative strength needed to win those seats.
- The ECI imposed procedural safeguards for the contests, including use of EVMs with VVPAT, a specified list of acceptable ID documents, candidate criminal‑disclosure requirements, publication of details on ECINET and immediate enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.
- The assembly schedule carries local stakes and voter protections: the BJP will defend Bankipur and Manjalpur while Congress seeks to retain Datia, employers must grant a paid holiday to voters and daily‑wage workers on polling day, and the Datia fight is watched as a test of party recovery after the incumbent’s disqualification.