Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat Seats Go to Polls Amid Heightened Guard

The three assembly seats of Banki, Datia and Manjalpur entered the voting phase on Thursday with an eye‑catching security apparatus. State governments allotted extra police personnel, rapid‑response teams and mobile command units to oversee the electoral process.

Election officials performed a final audit of the electronic voting machines at each district centre, confirming functionality and integrity before loading them onto transport vehicles. Once at the polling locations, the machines were sealed and placed under the supervision of senior officers.

Local administrators reported that the voter turnout in the early hours was encouraging, and that polling staff were efficiently managing queues at each booth. The Election Commission reiterated its commitment to a transparent count, promising that results will be declared as soon as the counting process is completed.

The contests feature a triangular fight in Banki, a veteran Congress leader seeking a seventh term in Datia, and a direct BJP‑Congress face‑off in Manjalpur, making the outcomes significant for the political calculations of the parties ahead of upcoming state assemblies.