'Blame EVMs after poll results': BJP targets Congress, exudes confidence of win in MP's Datia bypoll

Datia, July 28 (AHN) As campaigning for Madhya Pradesh's Datia Assembly bypoll ended on Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed the Congress had already conceded defeat and would blame electronic voting machines (EVMs) after the poll results, while asserting that the party would return to power in the Assembly constituency.

Addressing a press conference in Datia on the final day of campaigning, State BJP President Hemant Khandelwal accused the Congress of running a campaign based on false allegations and misinformation instead of highlighting development issues.

He alleged that the Congress had begun preparing excuses for its "imminent defeat" and claimed the party would question the electoral process after the results are declared on August 3.

Khandelwal said the BJP had received overwhelming support during the campaign and expressed confidence that voters would elect party candidate Ashutosh Tiwari.

The bypoll, scheduled for July 30, was necessitated after the disqualification of former Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti following his conviction by a Delhi district court in a corruption case.

The main political contest is between BJP nominee Ashutosh Tiwari and Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh.

Khandelwal said the bypoll is an opportunity to restore the pace of development in Datia, claiming that development works had remained stalled over the past two-and-a-half years.

He added that the BJP's double-engine government had transformed the Assembly constituency through infrastructure and welfare projects and added that the proposed Defence Park, to be taken up after the Model Code of Conduct is lifted, would create thousands of jobs and boost industrial growth.

Describing Ashutosh Tiwari as a grassroots worker associated with the BJP organisation for nearly three decades, Khandelwal said he would ensure faster development if elected.

Former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra also targeted the Congress, alleging that it had failed to contribute to Datia's growth despite getting opportunities to govern.

Taking a swipe at the Opposition's leadership, Mishra said, "The king has no kingdom and the Patwari has no constituency," and added that only the BJP and Ashutosh Tiwari could work for Datia's welfare and development.

Campaigning ended on Tuesday evening, setting the stage for polling on July 30.

The votes will be counted on August 3.