Datia bypoll: BJP predicts win, says Congress will blame EVMs after Aug 3 result
Synopsis
As Datia's bypoll campaign wrapped up, the BJP went on the offensive — accusing Congress of pre-emptively blaming EVMs for a defeat it hasn't yet suffered. With polling on 30 July and counting on 3 August, the seat — vacated by a convicted Congress MLA — has become a test of BJP's double-engine government narrative in Madhya Pradesh.
Key Takeaways
Datia Assembly bypoll polling is scheduled for 30 July ; votes will be counted on 3 August .
State BJP President Hemant Khandelwal claimed Congress was already preparing to blame EVMs for an 'imminent defeat.' The bypoll was triggered by the disqualification of former Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti after his conviction in a corruption case.
The main contest is between BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari and Congress's Ghanshyam Singh .
BJP cited a proposed Defence Park as a major jobs and industrial growth driver for Datia, pending the lifting of the Model Code of Conduct.
Former MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra alleged Congress failed to develop Datia despite having governed the state.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, 28 July closed its campaign for the Datia Assembly bypoll in Madhya Pradesh on a confident note, claiming the Indian National Congress (Congress) had effectively conceded defeat and was already preparing to blame electronic voting machines (EVMs) once results are declared on 3 August. Polling is scheduled for 30 July.
BJP's Campaign Pitch
State BJP President Hemant Khandelwal, addressing a press conference in Datia on the final day of campaigning, accused the Congress of running a campaign built on 'false allegations and misinformation' rather than development issues. He alleged the Opposition had begun crafting excuses for what he called its 'imminent defeat,' and predicted the party would question the integrity of the electoral process once the verdict is out.
Khandelwal said the BJP had received 'overwhelming support' during the campaign and expressed confidence that voters would elect party candidate Ashutosh Tiwari, whom he described as a grassroots worker with nearly three decades of association with the BJP organisation.
Why the Bypoll Was Called
The Datia bypoll was necessitated after the disqualification of former Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti, following his conviction by a Delhi district court in a corruption case. The seat has been without a sitting legislator for the past two-and-a-half years, a period the BJP characterised as one of stalled development.
The main contest is between BJP nominee Ashutosh Tiwari and Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh.
Development and Jobs at the Centre of BJP's Pitch
Khandelwal framed the bypoll as an opportunity to 'restore the pace of development' in Datia. He cited the BJP's 'double-engine government' — referring to the party being in power both at the state and Centre — as the driver behind infrastructure and welfare projects in the constituency. He also flagged a proposed Defence Park, which he said would be taken up once the Model Code of Conduct is lifted, projecting it as a source of thousands of jobs and a catalyst for industrial growth.
Opposition Targeted by Former Home Minister
Former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra also trained his fire on the Congress, alleging the party had failed to contribute to Datia's growth despite having had opportunities to govern. In a pointed jibe at the Opposition's leadership, Mishra said, 'The king has no kingdom and the Patwari has no constituency,' asserting that only the BJP and Tiwari could deliver for Datia.
What Happens Next
With campaigning concluded on Tuesday evening, Datia heads to the polls on 30 July. Votes will be counted on 3 August. The outcome will be closely watched as a barometer of political sentiment in Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP holds power, and as a test of the Congress's ability to recover ground in a constituency it previously held.
Point of View
Making any Congress challenge to the outcome look like sour grapes. What the campaign rhetoric obscures is a more substantive question: why did development in Datia stall for two-and-a-half years, and what accountability exists for that gap? The Defence Park promise, unveiled at the tail-end of campaigning, is also worth scrutiny — such announcements, timed to Model Code of Conduct windows, have a habit of quietly receding once elections are over. The real verdict on 3 August will be less about EVMs and more about whether voters in a constituency left without representation reward the ruling party or punish it.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Datia Assembly bypoll being held?
The Datia bypoll was necessitated by the disqualification of former Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti after he was convicted by a Delhi district court in a corruption case. The seat had been vacant for approximately two-and-a-half years before this election was called.
When is polling and when will results be declared for the Datia bypoll?
Polling in the Datia Assembly bypoll is scheduled for 30 July 2025, and votes will be counted on 3 August 2025.
Who are the main candidates in the Datia bypoll?
The principal contest is between BJP nominee Ashutosh Tiwari and Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh. The BJP has described Tiwari as a grassroots worker with nearly three decades of association with the party.
What did BJP's Hemant Khandelwal say about Congress and EVMs?
State BJP President Hemant Khandelwal alleged that Congress had begun preparing excuses for its 'imminent defeat' and predicted the party would question the electoral process — specifically EVMs — after the results are declared on 3 August. He accused Congress of running a campaign based on false allegations rather than development issues.
What development promises did the BJP make for Datia?
The BJP cited its 'double-engine government' for infrastructure and welfare projects already delivered in Datia. It also announced a proposed Defence Park, which party leaders said would create thousands of jobs and boost industrial growth once the Model Code of Conduct is lifted after the bypoll.
