Narottam builds caste outreach, Congress strengthens organisation:Datia bypoll preparations intensify, Damodar may disrupt BJP-Congress contest

Political activity has intensified over the upcoming bypoll in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia Assembly seat. The seat fell vacant after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti’s membership was terminated. BJP, Congress and the Azad Samaj Party have all begun working on their respective strategies. The Election Commission is required to conduct the bypoll by October 2, 2026, prompting all parties to become active. BJP focuses on caste outreach under Narottam Mishra Former state Home Minister Dr. Narottam Mishra has been working for the past two months to strengthen caste equations in the constituency. A membership drive has been conducted to connect voters from Yadav, Pal, Kshatriya and other communities with the BJP. In May, several groups from different communities joined the BJP in multiple phases. Political observers see this as a strategy to strengthen the party’s social base ahead of the bypoll. Congress is focusing on activating the organization The Congress is focusing on activating its organisation in the Datia Assembly constituency. Several meetings have been held at block, mandal and booth levels. Workers are being guided on election strategy and efforts are underway to maintain unity within the organisation. A major workers’ conference is scheduled for June 2, which is being seen as a show of strength. Ticket selection becomes a challenge, former MLA lobbying for son Ticket distribution has emerged as a major internal challenge for the Congress. Former MLA Rajendra Bharti is lobbying for a ticket for his son, while several other leaders have also staked their claim. Former Textbook Corporation vice-president Avdhesh Nayak is also in the race. In 2023, he was denied a ticket in favour of Rajendra Bharti and is now demanding a ticket as compensation for his earlier sacrifice. Apart from this, nearly half a dozen leaders are travelling between Bhopal and Delhi to secure the party ticket. Congress’s show of strength on June 2 On June 2, a large workers’ conference will be held in the Datia Assembly constituency. Leaders including the district Congress president and other senior functionaries will participate. The Congress is preparing to contest the bypoll unitedly. Rajendra Bharti, Avdhesh Nayak, former minister Mahendra Baudh and former MLA Ghanshyam Singh are jointly involved in planning strategy and mobilising workers. Scramble for ticket in Congress If BJP fields Dr. Narottam Mishra, his candidature is almost certain. The Azad Samaj Party has already declared Damodar Yadav as its candidate for the bypoll. Within Congress, there is internal conflict over ticket distribution. Rajendra Bharti is pushing for a ticket for his son, while Avdhesh Nayak, who was given the ticket in 2023 after Bharti, is now seeking candidature. He argues that he had earlier sacrificed his claim and should now be considered. Apart from him, about half a dozen leaders are actively lobbying in Bhopal and Delhi for the ticket. Azad Samaj Party also active, Damodar Yadav to be the candidate The Azad Samaj Party is also expanding its presence in Datia. Leader Damodar Yadav has been conducting farmer conferences, public meetings and organisational activities. He claims that several BSP and Congress workers are joining his party and that he has already been declared the party candidate for the bypoll. Recently, he held a farmer conference in Udgawa and meetings in Sewdha, Bhander and Indergarh, where workers from BSP and Congress were also present. Election Commission has also started preparations The Election Commission has also begun preparations for the bypoll. On the instructions of the Chief Electoral Officer, first-level checking of EVM machines is being carried out in Datia. This indicates that both political parties and the election machinery are actively preparing for the upcoming bypoll process. The Datia bypoll is currently seen as a direct contest between BJP and Congress. However, the active presence of the Azad Samaj Party may make the contest more interesting. In the coming days, candidate announcements and caste equations are expected to determine the direction of the election.