Congress candidate for Datia by-election, Ghanshyam Singh described BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari as ‘nothing’. He said that the real challenger was Narottam Mishra. Singh said his priority was to end corruption and improve the deteriorating social fabric.
Datia (Madhya Pradesh) [भारत]July 12 (ANI): After being named as the Congress candidate for the upcoming by-election from Datia Assembly constituency, Ghanshyam Singh hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He stressed that his main focus would be to eliminate corruption and improve the “deteriorated social fabric” in the region.
Narottam was a big challenge, this candidate is nothing: Ghanshyam Singh
Speaking to ANI, Singh admitted that Narottam Mishra could have been a big challenge for him, but the current BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari is “nothing”. “There is a huge difference. He (Narottam) was a very big challenge. This one is nothing. He will get as many votes as he can based on the strength of the party, the strength of the government and the strength of the administration. When all these forces are deployed, he will get some good votes. The administration will be used, the government will be used, money will be distributed,” he said.
Ghanshyam Singh said, “People in the villages may not have even heard his (Ashutosh) name. He has never even visited the villages of Datia assembly constituency.”
Ending corruption and social harmony priority
Furthermore, the Congress leader stressed the need for transparency so that the benefits of development work can effectively reach the general public. “The most important thing is to eliminate corruption so that the people can get the full benefits of the development work done,” Singh said.
Expressing concern over the growing political bitterness in the region, Singh lamented the erosion of harmony among the public. He said that political rivalry should not turn into personal enmity. The Congress candidate commented, “The social fabric has deteriorated, political rivalries have increased, and people have started considering each other as enemies. A rival is a rival, not an enemy.”
Earlier on July 11, Congress had declared Ghanshyam Singh as its candidate for the by-election to be held on Datia assembly seat of Madhya Pradesh. Singh will face BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari in this high-stakes contest.
Violent demonstration by Narottam Mishra’s supporters over ticket cancellation
Meanwhile, massive protests by supporters of Narottam Mishra in Datia turned violent, leaving eight police personnel injured and traffic disrupted in four districts after protesters blocked National Highway-44 for nearly 11 hours. Supporters staged this protest after Mishra was not given the by-election ticket.
Why is by-election being held in Datia?
The Datia seat fell vacant on April 2, 2026, due to the disqualification of Rajendra Bharti. The disqualification was done 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 notification said. (ANI)
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