Counting for the Datia Assembly by-election in Madhya Pradesh begins under tight security and proceeds through multiple rounds at Government Polytechnic College. The seat fell vacant after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti is disqualified following a conviction in a bank fraud case; he is also suspended from the Congress party’s primary membership ahead of the bypoll. The election is held on July 30, with voter turnout reported at 71.44%. Candidates are Ghanshyam Singh for Congress and Ashutosh Tiwari for the BJP; the election also features Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) candidate Damodar Yadav. Reports note heightened attention due to a BJP ticket issue involving former home minister Narottam Mishra, who had represented the seat for three consecutive terms before Bharti’s 2023 win.
Early counting trends show Congress leading, including a narrow lead in the first rounds, before widening as counting progresses. On final results, Congress wins the Datia seat, defeating the BJP candidate by roughly 6,000 votes (figures reported between 6,016 and 6,056). BJP leaders publicly express confidence in victory despite early trends, while Congress leaders credit the result to public sentiment and campaign efforts.
