Datia bypoll: BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari leads by 1,184 votes after first round
Synopsis
The Datia Assembly bypoll in Madhya Pradesh has turned into a high-stakes test for the BJP — the party is fighting to reclaim a seat it lost in 2023 to a Congress MLA who has since been convicted of fraud and expelled by his own party. With BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari leading by 1,184 votes after the first round, and Congress in visible disarray, the result could signal the state of play in Madhya Pradesh's political ground well ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Key Takeaways
BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari leads by 1,184 votes after the first round of counting in the Datia Assembly bypoll on 3 August .
Tiwari secured 4,651 votes against the Congress candidate's 3,367 ; other candidates polled 1,917 votes combined.
The seat fell vacant after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified following conviction in a cooperative rural development bank fraud case .
Bharti had defeated senior BJP leader and then Home Minister Narottam Mishra by 7,742 votes in 2023 .
Voter turnout stood at 71.44% — nearly 9 percentage points below the 2023 figure — across 291 polling stations .
Congress expelled Bharti from primary membership a day before counting, citing anti-party activities during the bypoll.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ashutosh Tiwari opened an early lead in the counting of votes for the Datia Assembly by-election in Madhya Pradesh on Monday, 3 August, with trends after the first round showing him ahead by 1,184 votes. The bypoll is being closely watched as the ruling BJP seeks to reclaim a seat it lost to the Indian National Congress (Congress) in the 2023 Assembly elections.
Early Counting Trends
After the first round, Tiwari had secured 4,651 votes against 3,367 polled by the Congress candidate. Other candidates in the fray collectively accounted for 1,917 votes. Counting is underway at the Government Polytechnic College in Datia under tight security arrangements.
The full exercise is set to be completed across 15 rounds at 21 counting tables — 20 designated for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and one for postal ballots. Around 350 officials have been deployed to oversee the process.
Why the Seat Fell Vacant
The by-election was necessitated after the Datia Assembly seat fell vacant following the disqualification of Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti, who was convicted in a cooperative rural development bank fraud case. Bharti had defeated senior BJP leader and then Home Minister Narottam Mishra by 7,742 votes in the 2023 Assembly elections, lending the bypoll considerable political weight for both parties.
Voter Turnout and Poll Day
Polling was conducted on 30 July. Of the 2,20,410 eligible voters, 1,57,473 exercised their franchise across 291 polling stations, registering a turnout of 71.44% — nearly nine percentage points lower than in the 2023 Assembly elections. The dip in participation could prove significant in a contest where margins have historically been decisive.
Congress Expels Bharti on Eve of Counting
In a notable development, the Congress expelled Rajendra Bharti from its primary membership just a day before counting began, citing his involvement in anti-party activities during the bypoll campaign. The move came months after his conviction had originally triggered the seat's vacancy.
Reacting to the expulsion, Bharti questioned the party's decision and warned it would send 'a wrong message to workers who had stood by the organisation.' He said: 'I have contested elections on Samajwadi Party and BSP tickets in the past. But the people of Madhya Pradesh have seen how Congress workers struggled to keep the party alive. If the party is now removing such leaders and taking action against those who fought for it, then who will continue to struggle for Congress?'
What's Next
With counting still in its early stages, the final result is expected once all 15 rounds are completed. A BJP win would help the party consolidate its position in Madhya Pradesh ahead of future electoral cycles, while a Congress hold would signal that the party retains grassroots support in the region despite internal turbulence.
Point of View
A move that risks alienating loyalists without any electoral upside. BJP's early lead reflects structural advantage, but the nine-point drop in turnout from 2023 deserves scrutiny: lower participation in a seat the ruling party is defending can cut either way, and the final margin will tell a more complete story than first-round trends.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Datia Assembly bypoll and why is it being held?
The Datia Assembly bypoll in Madhya Pradesh was necessitated after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified following his conviction in a cooperative rural development bank fraud case. The seat had originally been won by Bharti in the 2023 Assembly elections, when he defeated then Home Minister Narottam Mishra of the BJP by 7,742 votes.
Who is leading in the Datia bypoll counting so far?
BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari is leading after the first round of counting on 3 August, with 4,651 votes against the Congress candidate's 3,367 — a margin of 1,184 votes. Counting is ongoing across 15 rounds at the Government Polytechnic College in Datia.
What was the voter turnout in the Datia bypoll?
Polling held on 30 July recorded a turnout of 71.44%, with 1,57,473 of the 2,20,410 eligible voters casting their ballots across 291 polling stations. This was nearly nine percentage points lower than the turnout recorded in the 2023 Assembly elections.
Why did Congress expel Rajendra Bharti before the counting?
Congress expelled Rajendra Bharti from its primary membership a day before counting began, citing his involvement in anti-party activities during the bypoll campaign. Bharti publicly questioned the decision, warning it would demoralise workers who had supported the party.
What does the Datia bypoll result mean for Madhya Pradesh politics?
A BJP win would help the party consolidate its hold over Madhya Pradesh and erase the 2023 loss in this seat, while a Congress victory would signal residual grassroots strength despite internal turmoil. The result is being read as an early indicator of the political mood in the state ahead of future elections.
