The Datia by-election, triggered by the disqualification of Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti, has witnessed a see-saw battle, with the lead changing hands several times during counting.
BY PC Bureau
August 3, 2026: The Datia Assembly by-election in Madhya Pradesh is shaping up to be a nail-biting contest, with Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh holding a narrow lead of 1,786 votes over BJP nominee Ashutosh Tiwari after the sixth round of counting on Monday.
Election officials said the margin has fluctuated repeatedly since counting began in the morning, with the lead changing hands in the initial rounds before the Congress pulled ahead. The close contest has kept both parties on edge as several rounds of counting remain.
According to the latest trends, Singh has managed to consolidate a modest advantage, while Damodar Yadav of the Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) is running a distant third. A number of independents and candidates from smaller parties are also in the fray, though the battle has effectively narrowed to a direct Congress-BJP contest.
The bypoll was necessitated after the disqualification of sitting Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti, who lost his Assembly membership following his conviction in a criminal case. His disqualification forced the Election Commission to schedule a fresh election for the seat.
Polling was held on July 30, recording a voter turnout of around 71.4 percent across 291 polling stations serving more than 2.20 lakh electors. While the turnout remained healthy by bypoll standards, it was significantly lower than the 80.2 percent recorded during the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. Political observers believe the decline may reflect the absence of a statewide electoral wave and the localized nature of the contest. However, the relatively high participation indicates that Datia voters remain deeply engaged in the constituency’s political future.
The Congress has fielded Ghanshyam Singh, a veteran politician from the erstwhile Datia royal family who has represented both Datia and neighbouring Sevda in the past. Banking on his personal influence, local connect and political experience, the Congress hopes to retain the seat despite the setback caused by Bharti’s disqualification.
The BJP has pinned its hopes on Ashutosh Tiwari, a first-time Assembly candidate with a strong organisational background who previously served as chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Housing Board. The party has projected him as a fresh face capable of consolidating the BJP’s support base in the region.
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The contest drew additional political attention after the BJP denied a ticket to senior leader and former Home Minister Narottam Mishra, a three-time MLA from Datia. The decision sparked resentment among a section of party workers and triggered protests by Mishra’s supporters, leading to speculation that internal dissatisfaction could influence the outcome.
Election officials said counting is being conducted under tight security in approximately 15 rounds, in addition to postal ballots. With several rounds still to be completed, both the Congress and the BJP remain hopeful of victory, and the final result is expected to have political significance beyond Datia, serving as an indicator of the mood of voters in a key region of Madhya Pradesh.
As counting continues, the contest remains too close to call, with every round potentially altering the outcome in one of the state’s most closely watched by-elections.
