Datia (Madhya Pradesh): Campaigning for the Datia Assembly bypoll in Madhya Pradesh ended Tuesday evening, with the district administration announcing extensive security arrangements for polling on July 30 amid a direct political contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress.
Datia District Collector Swapnil Wankhede said that the poll campaigning concluded at 6 p.m. and all arrangements have been completed to conduct a peaceful and transparent election.
Addressing a press conference, Wankhede added that polling stations have been categorised based on sensitivity to ensure effective monitoring and security.
“There are 291 polling stations in Datia Assembly constituency. Of these, 231 have been identified as critical and 28 as vulnerable. Special arrangements will be made at these booths,” he said.
The Collector said that personnel from Central and state security forces have been deployed across the Assembly constituency.
“CRPF, SAF and Madhya Pradesh Police personnel have been deployed at polling stations and sensitive locations. Besides, 215 micro-observers have been appointed to monitor the voting process inside the booths,” Wankhede added.
He said that 1,280 polling personnel have been assigned election duties and none of them belong to the Datia Assembly constituency to ensure impartiality.
The bypoll was necessitated after former Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified following his conviction in a corruption-related case.
The election has turned into a closely watched political contest between the BJP and Congress, while the Aazad Samaj Party candidate Damodar Singh Yadav has made the fight triangular.
The BJP has fielded Ashutosh Tiwari, while Congress has nominated Ghanshyam Singh.
Tiwari’s candidature had reportedly led to dissatisfaction among supporters of former state Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who had represented the Assembly seat earlier.
The BJP has made development and proposed investments its main campaign plank, while the Congress has targeted the BJP over farmers’ issues, crop losses and alleged denial of the full 27 per cent reservation benefit to the OBC community.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held a roadshow on Monday in support of BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari.
The Congress campaign was led by senior party leader Digvijaya Singh, State Congress President Jitu Patwari, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar and Jaivardhan Singh.
On the last day of campaigning, Patwari addressed a ‘Jan Ashirwad’ rally and appealed to voters to support the Congress.
The Datia seat has witnessed a close political battle in recent years.
In the 2023 Assembly elections, Congress’ Rajendra Bharti defeated senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra, who was then the State Home Minister, by more than 7,500 votes.
The counting of votes for the bypoll will be held on August 3.
(IANS)
