Congress retains Madhya Pradesh's Datia seat, defeats BJP by over 6,000 votes in key bypoll

The Congress on Monday retained the Datia Assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh, with its candidate Ghanshyam Singh defeating BJP nominee Ashutosh Tiwari by 6,016 votes in a closely watched by-election that came against the backdrop of discontent within the ruling party over its choice of candidate.

According to District Election Officer and Datia District Magistrate Swapnil Wankhade, Singh secured 66,757 votes after all 15 rounds of counting, while Tiwari polled 60,741 votes. Azad Samaj Party candidate Damodar Yadav finished a distant third with 22,527 votes.

Also Read: Prashant Kishor secures maiden electoral win with commanding lead in BJP bastion Bankipur


Although Singh at one stage enjoyed a lead of 12,607 votes, the BJP candidate narrowed the margin in the closing rounds. A total of 21 candidates contested the bypoll.

The election was necessitated after sitting Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified from the Assembly following his conviction in a cheating case by a Delhi court in April, which sentenced him to three years' imprisonment.

The contest was keenly watched as the BJP chose not to renominate former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who had lost the seat to Bharti by more than 7,700 votes in the 2023 Assembly election. Instead, the party fielded Ashutosh Tiwari, a decision that reportedly triggered differences within the state BJP.

Reacting to the victory, Ghanshyam Singh said, "This verdict marks the beginning of the end of the BJP."

Also Read: Prashant Kishor in the house! Strategist's big political gamble may finally be paying off

Celebrations broke out at the Madhya Pradesh Congress headquarters in Bhopal, where party workers distributed sweets after the result.

The by-election recorded a voter turnout of 71.44%, with the main contest remaining between the Congress and the BJP despite 21 candidates being in the fray.

Expressing confidence about the party's future prospects, Singh said the Congress would return to power in Madhya Pradesh in 2028 and was working to ensure Rahul Gandhi becomes the country's next prime minister.

He also outlined his priorities for the constituency.

"My priority will be to promote communal harmony in Datia and end political vendetta," Singh said.

"I will work to end gambling and betting rackets in the constituency," he added.

Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari described the outcome as a victory for the people of Datia and said it sent a strong political message ahead of the 2028 Assembly election.

Patwari told reporters in Bhopal that Datia voters had exposed the corruption, terror and arrogance of the BJP government.

He said the people of Datia have laid the foundation for change and the BJP's departure.