A day before the Datia Assembly by-election result in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress took major organisational action by suspending former Datia MLA Rajendra Bharti from the party’s primary membership.
The suspension order was issued by Congress National General Secretary and Madhya Pradesh in-charge Harish Chaudhary. Counting of votes for the Datia by-election is scheduled for August 3.
Following polling on July 30, Congress candidate Kunwar Ghanshyam Singh submitted a written complaint to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other senior party leaders. He alleged that former MLA Rajendra Bharti had worked against the party during the election and engaged in anti-party activities.
Ghanshyam alleges BJP funding for Bharti
Speaking to the media, Ghanshyam Singh alleged that Bharti had been working in coordination with BJP leaders and had received financial support from the party. He further claimed that Bharti’s supporters distributed money among voters in an attempt to damage the Congress’s prospects in the by-election.
Ghanshyam also demanded that Bharti be expelled from the party.
‘Bharti ignored Congress workers’
Earlier, Ghanshyam Singh had accused Bharti of neglecting Congress workers and the public after winning the 2023 Assembly election. He alleged that Bharti used questions raised in the Assembly to exert pressure on government officials and gained political advantage through his close ties with senior BJP leaders.
Bharti rejects allegations
Rejecting the allegations, Rajendra Bharti said-
Those who live in glass houses should stop throwing stones at others.
He alleged that Ghanshyam Singh was making baseless accusations to conceal his fear of defeat. Bharti added that he had spent years working among the people and said the residents of Datia know who has genuinely fought for them.
Claims Ghanshyam contested with Narottam Mishra’s consent
Bharti further claimed that Ghanshyam Singh contested the by-election with the consent of former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Dr Narottam Mishra. He alleged that people associated with Mishra played a key role in managing the election campaign and funding.
Bharti also claimed that Ghanshyam Singh was unwilling to contest a direct election against Narottam Mishra.
