Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari sparked a sharp political controversy on Friday, 25 July, after a video of his campaign speech in Datia surfaced on social media, in which he warned police and administrative officials with the phrase 'thik kar dunga' — loosely translated as 'I will deal with you' — if they took action against Congress workers. The remark, made at a rally on Thursday, comes less than a week before the Datia Assembly by-election scheduled for 30 July.

What Patwari Said

In the widely circulated video, Patwari could be heard saying: 'Police and administrative officials should listen carefully. If anyone acts against a Congress worker, remember my name is Jitu Patwari. Elections will take place later, but before that I will settle the matter with you here. The elections must be conducted in a free and fair manner.'

The Congress maintained that the remarks were made in the context of ensuring free and fair polling and shielding party workers from alleged administrative pressure — not as a threat to election officials.

BJP's Reaction

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) moved swiftly to condemn the statement. BJP state media in-charge Ashish Agarwal alleged that Patwari had directly threatened officials responsible for conducting the election. 'Has the desperation stemming from a likely defeat in the Datia Assembly by-election grown to such an extent that threats are now being issued to the police and administration from public platforms?' Agarwal said.

Agarwal further alleged that the language used by the Congress president indicated the party had lost faith in democracy and the mandate of the people of Datia, and that such statements were designed to coerce officials overseeing the electoral process.

Congress Pushes Back

The Congress dismissed the BJP's characterisation, accusing it of deliberately taking Patwari's words out of context for political gain. Party spokespersons argued that the MP Congress chief was responding to reported instances of administrative high-handedness against Congress workers in the run-up to polling, and that his remarks were a call for electoral fairness — not intimidation.

Datia By-Election: What's at Stake

The Datia Assembly constituency goes to the polls on 30 July, with counting of votes scheduled for 3 August. The BJP has fielded Ashutosh Tiwari, while the Congress has nominated former MLA Ghanshyam Singh. The bypoll is being closely watched as a barometer of public sentiment in Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP holds a dominant position after its decisive victory in the 2023 state Assembly elections.

This is not the first time campaign rhetoric has escalated into a formal political complaint in the state's bypolls. The controversy is likely to intensify scrutiny on both the Election Commission's oversight and the conduct of all parties in the final stretch before polling day.