By Kavita Sharma.
Photo Credit: The Suncity News.
Patna, July 30, 2026: The by-election to the 182-Bankipur Assembly constituency concluded largely peacefully on Thursday, with only a few minor scuffles reported between supporters of the BJP and Jan Suraaj Party.
According to the Election Commission, the final voter turnout stood at 34.30 at 6 PM, and the polling was held between 7 am and 6 pm across 422 polling booths located at 162 polling station locations.
A total of 3,79,616 voters were eligible to cast their votes, comprising 2,00,060 male voters, 1,79,533 female voters, and 23 third gender voters.
The Bankipur by-election witnessed a contest among 25 candidates, including 23 male and 2 female candidates.
The Election Commission has used over 1100 EVMs in the Bankipur by-poll:
To conduct the election in Bankipur, the Election Commission deployed 569 Control Units, 1146 Ballot Units (EVMs), and 617 VVPATs, including reserve machines.
During the mock poll, 15 ballot units, 10 Control Units, and 8 VVPATs were replaced, while 14 Ballot Units, 7 Control Units and 9 VVPATs were replaced during the actual voting process.
Special arrangements were made to encourage voter participation and ensure accessibility.
The Commission established 30 Model Polling Stations, one polling station managed entirely by women and one by Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
Live webcasting was carried out from all 422 polling stations to ensure transparency.
The Election Commission appointed one General Observer, one Expenditure Observer and one police observer to oversee the polling process.
During the day, the election control room received 59 complaints, all of which were resolved promptly.
Extensive security arrangements were put in place to ensure free, fair, and peaceful polling.
A total of 14 companies of the Central Armed Police Force, 8 companies of the Bihar Special Armed Police, along with 268 jawans, 221 police officers and 998 district police personnel, were deployed.
Additionally, 500 Home Guards were stationed at polling stations to assist voters.
Emergency response mechanism included motorboats, SDRF teams, dog squads, bomb disposal squads, and Dial 112 Emergency Response Vehicles.
Security forces also maintained vigil at 85 check-posts established to curb illegal activities during the election.
Agencies’ seizures during the polling in the Bankipur by-poll:
As part of the enforcement drive, joint teams of flying squad, static surveillance team, and APF seized Rs 14.30 lakh in cash, 2,412.18 litres of liquor, 39,200 intoxicant tablets, and an additional Rs 3.95 lakh in cash.
Police also carried out preventive action against 2454 individuals identified as potential troublemakers. Since the announcement of the by-poll of Bankipur, 998 non-bailable warrants have been executed as part of a special campaign against wanted criminals.
Authorities also maintained round-the-clock monitoring of social media to curb the spread of misinformation.
Between July 2 and July 29, five cases were registered for violations of the Model Code of Conduct.
On the polling day of the Bankipur by-poll, 39 persons were arrested or detained according to the information available.
Overall, election authorities described the voting process as peaceful, with only isolated incidents of unrest reported at Kidwaipuri and near A N College.
EOM.
