Datia bypoll: Congress’ Ghanshyam Singh beats BJP by 6,000 votes

The Congress scored a crucial victory in the Datia Assembly by-election on Monday, with its candidate Ghanshyam Singh defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Ashutosh Tiwari by 6,016 votes, dealing a setback to the ruling party in Madhya Pradesh.

According to the final results declared by the Election Commission, Ghanshyam Singh secured 66,757 votes, while Ashutosh Tiwari polled 60,741 votes. A total of 21 candidates contested the by-election, which recorded a voter turnout of 71.44 per cent on July 30.

The Congress candidate established a commanding lead during the initial rounds of counting, at one stage opening a margin of more than 12,600 votes. Although the BJP narrowed the gap in the later rounds, it failed to overturn the deficit, allowing Ghanshyam Singh to register a comfortable victory.

The bypoll was necessitated after former Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified following his conviction in a bank fraud case. In a dramatic development ahead of the results, the Congress suspended Bharti from the party’s primary membership after Ghanshyam Singh accused him of attempting to sabotage his campaign and colluding with the BJP.

The BJP had fielded first-time candidate Ashutosh Tiwari after denying a ticket to former State Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who represented the Datia constituency for three consecutive terms before losing to Rajendra Bharti in the 2023 Assembly elections.

Reacting to his victory, Ghanshyam Singh termed the verdict a strong message from the people against the BJP. He expressed confidence that the Congress would form the next Government in Madhya Pradesh in 2028 and said the party was also working towards seeing Rahul Gandhi become the next Prime Minister.

Outlining his priorities for the constituency, the newly elected MLA said he would work to strengthen communal harmony, end political vendetta and take strict action against gambling and betting rackets in Datia.

Celebrations broke out at the Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters in Bhopal, where party workers distributed sweets and raised slogans in support of the party leadership.

State Congress President Jitu Patwari described the verdict as a victory for the people of Datia and said it reflected public anger against the BJP Government’s alleged corruption, intimidation and arrogance.

He said the result marked the beginning of political change in the State and would boost the Congress ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.