Scindia rallies for BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari in Datia bypoll, cites ₹300 crore development push
Synopsis
With polling just six days away, Jyotiraditya Scindia took the BJP's campaign to Datia's Badoni, stacking up over ₹300 crore in infrastructure deliverables — airport, power grid, highway promise — against Congress's 2018 record. The bypoll has become a test of the BJP's development narrative in a Chambal-belt seat where the Narottam-Ashutosh pairing is being positioned as a continuity vote.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia campaigned for BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari in Datia on 24 July .
Scindia cited a ₹200 crore power infrastructure project at Badoni and a ₹100 crore airport among BJP-era deliverables.
He announced the upcoming foundation stone laying for the Gwalior-Bhind-Etawah four-lane highway .
BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari faces Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh in the by-election.
Polling for the Datia Assembly by-election is scheduled for 30 July .
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday, 24 July addressed a public rally in Datia, Madhya Pradesh, campaigning for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ashutosh Tiwari ahead of the Datia Assembly by-election scheduled for 30 July. Scindia urged voters to back the BJP to sustain what he described as an uninterrupted development trajectory under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Key Developments at the Rally
Speaking at a public meeting in Badoni, Datia district, Scindia framed the bypoll as more than a local contest. He said the election was about reinforcing Modi's vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) and called on voters to choose the BJP's lotus symbol to keep the pace of growth intact.
'Every promise made to the people of Datia has been fulfilled. Now, vote for the Lotus to keep the pace of development intact,' Scindia said at the gathering.
Infrastructure Projects Cited by Scindia
The Union Minister, who is also the Lok Sabha MP from Guna, listed a series of infrastructure interventions he attributed to the BJP's tenure. These include secured stoppages for the Taj Express and Jhelum Express at Datia, establishment of a Kendriya Vidyalaya, and a power infrastructure upgrade project worth nearly ₹200 crore at Badoni.
Scindia also announced that the foundation stone for a proposed Gwalior-Bhind-Etawah four-lane highway would be laid soon, a project expected to significantly improve regional connectivity. Other projects he highlighted included a Datia airport built at approximately ₹100 crore, a medical college, a veterinary college, CM Rise schools, drinking water schemes, and sewerage projects.
Attack on Congress
Targeting the opposition, Scindia alleged that the Indian National Congress (Congress) government in Madhya Pradesh during 2018 failed to deliver development and was marked by corruption. He contrasted this with what he described as two decades of BJP-led infrastructure growth and welfare delivery in the state.
'Datia has resolved to elect the Narottam-Ashutosh duo. This election is about carrying forward the development journey and strengthening Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India,' he added.
Contest and What's Next
The BJP has fielded Ashutosh Tiwari against Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh in what has emerged as a high-profile constituency contest, drawing senior leaders from both parties. Polling is set for 30 July. The outcome will be closely watched as a gauge of voter sentiment in the Chambal-Gwalior belt ahead of future electoral cycles in Madhya Pradesh.
Point of View
₹100 crore airport, highway promise — and dare the opposition to counter with a comparable list. The Congress's 2018 Madhya Pradesh government remains the BJP's most reliable punching bag in the state, and with good reason given how that tenure ended. What the rally does not address is whether Datia's voters — particularly those in rural pockets beyond Badoni — feel the development dividend in their daily lives. Bypolls in India often hinge less on state-level narratives and more on hyper-local grievances; the real test for Tiwari is not Scindia's speech but the ground-level satisfaction of voters who may not have seen the airport or the Kendriya Vidyalaya as personal gains.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Datia Assembly by-election and when is polling?
The Datia Assembly by-election is a state legislative seat contest in Madhya Pradesh, with polling scheduled for 30 July. The BJP has fielded Ashutosh Tiwari against Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh.
Why did Jyotiraditya Scindia campaign in Datia?
Scindia, Union Minister and Lok Sabha MP from Guna, campaigned in Datia on 24 July to rally support for BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari, highlighting infrastructure projects delivered under BJP governance and framing the bypoll as a vote for Prime Minister Modi's 'Viksit Bharat' vision.
What development projects did Scindia highlight in Datia?
Scindia cited a ₹200 crore power infrastructure project at Badoni, a ₹100 crore airport, a Kendriya Vidyalaya, a medical college, a veterinary college, CM Rise schools, drinking water schemes, and the proposed Gwalior-Bhind-Etawah four-lane highway.
Who is the BJP candidate in the Datia bypoll?
The BJP has fielded Ashutosh Tiwari in the Datia Assembly by-election. He is being positioned alongside former Home Minister Narottam Mishra as part of the party's local campaign branding.
What did Scindia say about the Congress in Datia?
Scindia alleged that the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh in 2018 failed to deliver development and was marked by corruption, contrasting it with what he described as two decades of BJP-led infrastructure growth in the state.
