Peaceful Voting Concludes in Datiya Assembly By-Election with High Turnout

The Datiya Assembly by-election concluded with a remarkable 71.44% voter turnout, as reported by election officials. Major political parties have claimed victory, but the official results will be announced after the counting on August 3. The election was conducted under tight security, with no significant incidents reported. Allegations of power misuse were raised by the Congress party, which has called for an investigation into claims of unfair practices. The contest is primarily between BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari and Congress's Ghanshyam Singh, with 21 candidates in total. This election follows the disqualification of former Congress member Rajendra Bharti, making it a crucial event for the political landscape in Madhya Pradesh.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 31, 2026, 07:26 IST

Voting Process and Turnout

On Thursday, the by-election for the Datiya Assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh was conducted smoothly. According to election officials, a notable 71.44% of eligible voters participated in the voting process. While all major political parties have claimed victory, the official results will be revealed after the counting on August 3.

Security and Voting Environment

Voting commenced at 7 AM and concluded at 6 PM under strict security measures. District Election Officer and Datiya District Collector Swapnil Wankhede reported that queues formed early at polling stations, with voters showing enthusiasm. He stated, 'The voting was completed in a completely peaceful manner.'

Wankhede confirmed that 71.44% of the electorate exercised their voting rights, with no complaints or incidents reported. In the 2023 Assembly elections, the Datiya seat recorded the highest turnout of 80.20%. He added that all electronic voting machines (EVMs) have been securely stored in a strong room at the Polytechnic College under armed security.

Security Measures and Complaints

To ensure the safety of the strong room, CCTV cameras and security personnel will be on duty 24/7. Wankhede dismissed allegations of fraudulent voting. However, he mentioned a case of a boycott in the Basai area over road demands, which was resolved through discussions with the community.

Subsequently, voting proceeded successfully at the relevant polling station. A total of 291 polling centers were established in the Datiya Assembly constituency, where 220,344 voters will determine the fate of 21 candidates. This includes 186 centers in rural areas and 105 in urban regions.

Voter Demographics and Security Forces

Among the voters, there are 116,088 men and 104,246 women. The State Election Commission and district administration remained vigilant regarding the voting process. For security, 16 companies of central and state forces were deployed.

A control room was also set up for immediate action on complaints, and police conducted thorough checks along borders with neighboring districts. Meanwhile, the Congress party accused the ruling party of misusing power during the voting.

Allegations and Responses

The party shared a video on the social media platform 'X', claiming that a polling agent from Congress was taken away by police from polling station number 51 without justification, potentially affecting the fairness of the voting process. Congress has urged the Election Commission to intervene and conduct a fair investigation into the matter.

In response to these allegations, Collector Wankhede stated that no such incident involving polling agents occurred. He clarified that some individuals, including workers from the BJP and the Azad Samaj Party, were removed from near the polling center.

Candidates and Their Claims

The main contest in Datiya is perceived to be between BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari and Congress's Ghanshyam Singh, with the Azad Samaj Party fielding Damodar Singh Yadav, aiming to make the contest triangular. Additionally, there are 18 other candidates in the fray.

After voting, all major candidates claimed victory. Former Home Minister Narottam Mishra also cast his vote and expressed confidence in the BJP candidate's success. Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh stated that he has strong support from the local populace, ensuring Congress's victory.

Political Implications

BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari inspected various polling centers and asserted that the public would vote in favor of development and good governance. Azad Samaj Party's Damodar Singh Yadav remarked on the enthusiastic participation of citizens in this democratic process.

Congress state president Jitu Patwari posted on 'X' that thousands of Congress workers are committed to ensuring democracy prevails, and Datiya is ready to respond to 'government chaos.' While the outcome of this by-election is unlikely to affect the stability of the state government, all eyes are on the Datiya seat due to the BJP's decision not to nominate Narottam Mishra this time, opting instead for Ashutosh Tiwari, who has ties to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Background of the By-Election

In the 2023 Assembly elections, Congress's Rajendra Bharti defeated Narottam Mishra by over 7,500 votes. However, in April, a Delhi court sentenced Bharti to three years in prison for fraud, leading to the termination of his Assembly membership and necessitating this by-election in Datiya.