Ranchi: Even before the Election Commission of India had announced the April 17-Madhupur bypoll, all political parties had started routine election processes like cadre movement, campaigning and others. Along with the poll fever, the number of fresh cases also started rising in Deoghar district, which houses the assembly constituency, but experts believe the rise in cases is not related to the high-pitched election battle. This is the third bypoll in the state during the pandemic. The earlier two — Dumka and Bermo — were held in November. Although constituency-specific number of Covid infections is not available, going by the figures of Deoghar district, it is evident that the caseload increased substantially in March to reach 82 as against 44 cases recorded in February and 40 in January. In the first six days of April, the district has already recorded 120 fresh cases. During the same period, test figures have registered a regular dip. Against 22,091 tests conducted in January, only 16,536 tests were carried out in February while it marginally increased to 18,325 in March. Despite official confirmation of a second wave in April, only 3,197 tests have been carried out in the first week of April.