Datia bypoll: Congress's Ghanshyam Singh files nomination, bets on BJP dissent over Narottam Mishra
Synopsis
The Datia bypoll has Congress banking on an unusual asset: BJP's own internal discontent. By fielding a two-time MLA backed by the full state leadership, the party is betting that dropping Narottam Mishra — a former Home Minister with deep local roots — has fractured the ruling party's ground game enough to flip a seat it lost through its own MLA's disqualification.
Key Takeaways
Ghanshyam Singh , former two-time MLA, filed his nomination for the Datia Assembly bypoll on 13 July .
Senior Congress leaders including Jitu Patwari , Umang Singhar , and Digvijaya Singh accompanied him to the Collectorate.
The BJP has fielded Ashutosh Tiwari after dropping former Home Minister Narottam Mishra , a move Congress claims has fuelled internal dissatisfaction.
The Samajwadi Party has extended INDIA bloc support to the Congress candidate; the Azad Samaj Party has fielded Damodar Yadav .
The bypoll was necessitated by the disqualification of Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti on 2 April under the Representation of the People Act.
Polling is on 30 July ; vote counting is scheduled for 3 August .
Congress candidate and former MLA Ghanshyam Singh filed his nomination for the Datia Assembly bypoll on Monday, 13 July, with senior party leaders by his side, as the opposition sought to capitalise on reported disquiet within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following the denial of a ticket to former Home Minister Narottam Mishra. The filing sets the stage for a closely watched contest, with polling scheduled for 30 July and counting on 3 August.
Senior Leadership Turns Out in Force
The nomination was filed at the Datia Collectorate in the presence of a prominent Congress contingent. Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, and former MLA Rajendra Bharti all accompanied Singh — a show of solidarity that underlined the party's intent to treat Datia as a winnable seat rather than a symbolic contest.
Singh Makes His Case
Speaking after filing his papers, Singh thanked the Congress leadership and the electorate. 'The Congress party has given me this responsibility after taking feedback from the people. My name was at the top in the party's surveys. I am grateful to the leadership and to the people of Datia. Their support gives me confidence,' he said. A two-time MLA from the constituency, Singh acknowledged that the political landscape had shifted but argued that the appetite for change had not. 'There is a big difference between the politics of the past and the present, but the desire for change among the people remains the same. We are contesting this election with full confidence,' he added.
BJP Dissent in Focus
Singh's central campaign argument rests on the fallout from the BJP's decision to drop Narottam Mishra — a heavyweight in Madhya Pradesh politics who served as Home Minister — and field Ashutosh Tiwari instead. 'Narottam Mishra's ticket being cut has changed the political equations. There is widespread dissatisfaction within the BJP. Many of their own workers will not support the party in this election. Congress is fully confident of victory,' Singh claimed. Whether that internal friction translates into defection at the booth remains to be seen, but it is a line the Congress is pressing hard.
Alliance Backing and the Triangular Contest Question
The Samajwadi Party (SP) state president Manoj Yadav confirmed his party's support for the Congress candidate, framing it as consistent with the broader INDIA bloc strategy. Singh, however, dismissed the prospect of a meaningful three-way race, alleging that the Azad Samaj Party — which has fielded Damodar Yadav — was functioning as the BJP's 'B-team' to split opposition votes. The Azad Samaj Party has not responded publicly to the allegation.
Why the Seat Fell Vacant
The Datia bypoll was triggered after sitting Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified on 2 April under the Representation of the People Act. Bharti's disqualification is notable given that he was present at Singh's nomination filing on Monday, signalling continued party engagement despite his own changed status. The bypoll is one of several sub-elections in Madhya Pradesh testing the BJP's grip on the state it reclaimed in the 2023 Assembly elections.
Point of View
And the fallout can be costly in tight contests. Dropping Narottam Mishra — a figure with a genuine organisational base in the region — to field a lesser-known candidate is a gamble the BJP has taken before in Madhya Pradesh, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. Congress is right to press the wound, but converting BJP worker resentment into actual cross-voting is harder than it sounds; party loyalty and booth-level machinery often override personal grievance on polling day. The real variable is the Azad Samaj Party's vote share: if it pulls even a few percentage points from the Congress-SP combine, the BJP's calculation may yet hold.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is contesting the Datia Assembly bypoll for Congress?
Congress has fielded Ghanshyam Singh , a former two-time MLA from Datia, as its candidate for the bypoll. He filed his nomination on 13 July, accompanied by senior party leaders including MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari and former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh.
Why is the Datia bypoll being held?
The Datia Assembly seat fell vacant after sitting Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified on 2 April under the Representation of the People Act. A bypoll is mandatory when a sitting legislator is disqualified mid-term.
Who is the BJP candidate for the Datia bypoll?
The BJP has nominated Ashutosh Tiwari for the Datia bypoll, replacing former Home Minister Narottam Mishra , who was denied the party ticket. The decision has reportedly caused dissatisfaction among a section of BJP workers in the constituency.
What is the polling schedule for the Datia bypoll?
Voting for the Datia Assembly bypoll is scheduled for 30 July , with counting of votes to take place on 3 August .
Is the Samajwadi Party supporting Congress in Datia?
Yes. SP state president Manoj Yadav confirmed the party's support for the Congress candidate as part of the INDIA bloc's coordinated approach. The Azad Samaj Party has separately fielded its own candidate, Damodar Yadav , a move Congress has characterised as vote-splitting in favour of the BJP.
