Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari on Sunday exuded confidence over the party's prospects in the upcoming Datia Assembly by-election, stating that the Congress would "100 per cent" win the seat. Addressing reporters, Patwari noted that Ghanshyam Singh had been given the ticket with the consensus of all senior leaders and workers, adding that the party was entirely certain of a victory.
The Congress had announced Ghanshyam Singh as its candidate for the Datia Assembly by-election on July 11. He is pitted against BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari in what has become a high-stakes contest. Following his nomination, Singh accused the BJP of fostering corruption and weakening the social fabric within the constituency. Speaking to the media, he explained that his priority would be to eliminate corruption and ensure that the benefits of development truly reach the public, allowing them to benefit fully from local infrastructure work.
Singh also remarked that former minister Narottam Mishra would have posed a much more significant electoral challenge than the BJP's current nominee. He suggested that while Mishra represented a substantial obstacle, the new candidate was far less formidable and would only garner votes based purely on the strength of the party, the government, and the local administration.
Expressing broader concerns over the political atmosphere in the constituency, Singh observed that the social fabric had deteriorated and political animosity had risen to a point where people treat each other as enemies, rather than simply as political opponents.
The Datia seat fell vacant following the disqualification of Rajendra Bharti on April 2, 2026. Official notifications stated that the disqualification was enacted under the provisions of Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Article 191(1)(e) of the Constitution of India. The by-election has already triggered considerable political turbulence after supporters of senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra staged large-scale protests over him being denied the party ticket. The demonstrations ultimately turned violent, leaving eight police personnel injured and disrupting traffic on National Highway-44 for nearly 11 hours.
Also read: MP RS polls: BJP tests arithmetic, Cong seeks to secure lone seat
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