The Congress party has suspended former MLA Rajendra Bharti from its primary membership hours before the vote count for the Datia by-election. Bharti, who was disqualified earlier this year following a legal conviction, has labeled the move a conspiracy. The by-election, held on July 30, saw a voter turnout of 71.44%.
The Congress party announced the suspension of former Madhya Pradesh MLA Rajendra Bharti from its primary membership late Sunday evening. This disciplinary action occurred just hours before the official counting of votes for the Datia by-election, a development that adds a layer of political uncertainty to the constituency’s immediate future.
Rajendra Bharti’s political status has been in flux since April 2026, when he was disqualified from the State Assembly. This disqualification was mandated by law following his conviction in a cheating case by a Delhi court, which carried a three-year prison sentence. Under current Indian electoral laws, a conviction resulting in a prison sentence of two years or more leads to immediate disqualification for legislators.
Despite the suspension, Bharti has maintained a defiant stance. He publicly dismissed the party's decision as a conspiracy orchestrated by senior members and alleged that his political rivals, including the party’s current candidate Ghanshyam Singh, had played a role in the situation. Bharti also reaffirmed his intention to remain active in politics, stating that he plans to contest future assembly elections.
Datia By-Election Context and Stakes
The Datia by-election, conducted on July 30, recorded a voter turnout of 71.44%. The contest featured a multi-party field with 21 candidates in total, including the Congress nominee Ghanshyam Singh and the BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari. The outcome of this election is being closely watched as it determines the successor for a constituency that has seen intense political rivalry in recent years.
In the 2023 Assembly elections, Bharti had notably defeated senior leader Narottam Mishra by a margin of over 7,700 votes, a result that established him as a significant political figure in the region. The impact of his current suspension on his local support base and the long-term political dynamics of the Datia region remains the primary uncertainty for observers. Investors and political analysts will track the final vote count to see if the Congress party's decision affects its traditional voter base in the constituency.