The counting of votes for the bypoll in the Datia Assembly constituency of Madhya Pradesh commenced on Monday, August 3, 2026, according to officials. This significant process began at 8 a.m. at the Polytechnic College, conducted under stringent security measures. The counting protocol started with postal ballots, subsequently progressing to the tallying of votes from Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
The day preceding the results for the Datia Assembly seat saw the Congress party taking action against former MLA Rajendra Bharti. His suspension, attributed to a disqualification from his role due to a conviction in a bank fraud case, precipitated the need for this bypoll. This suspension follows accusations from the Congress candidate for the bypoll, Ghanshyam Singh, who claimed that Bharti attempted to undermine his campaign and colluded with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
BJP’s Candidate and Voter Turnout
The BJP introduced debutant Ashutosh Tiwari as its candidate for this bypoll after opting not to field former State Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who has held the seat for three consecutive terms until his defeat to Bharti in the 2023 Assembly elections. The bypoll held on July 30 recorded a commendable voting turnout of 71.44%, as reported by the Election Commission.
To facilitate the counting process, a total of 21 tables were established at the Polytechnic College, with 20 of these assigned for EVM counting, as confirmed by an official statement.
Political Landscape in Madhya Pradesh
Within the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly, the BJP currently holds a significant majority with 164 MLAs, while the Congress has 64 MLAs, and the Bharat Adivasi Party boasts one legislator. This bypoll is also a pivotal test for the newly appointed BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal.
(With inputs from PTI)
