GG News Bureau
Datia, 10th April: Political activity has intensified in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia after former Congress MLA Rajendra Bharati was convicted in a cooperative bank corruption case and sentenced to three years by a Delhi MP-MLA court, leading to his immediate disqualification from the विधानसभा.
Following the court’s verdict, the Assembly Secretariat declared his membership void, triggering the possibility of a by-election in the Datia seat.
The development has set off political calculations within the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has reportedly begun preparations for the potential bypoll. A key meeting between former Home Minister Narottam Mishra and state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal in Bhopal has further intensified speculation.
Sources indicate that the closed-door discussion focused on strategy for the Datia seat, which has traditionally been a stronghold of Narottam Mishra. He had represented the constituency three times before losing to Bharati in the 2023 Assembly elections by over 7,700 votes.
With Bharati’s disqualification, Mishra is being seen as a natural contender if a by-election is announced.
Legal Battle Continues
Bharati was convicted in a 27-year-old cooperative bank fraud case, with the court awarding him a maximum sentence of three years across charges. The Congress has termed the action a “political conspiracy,” even as authorities maintain that the disqualification follows established legal norms.
The matter is now set to move to the Delhi High Court, which has scheduled the next hearing for April 15. Notices have been issued to the state government and the complainant.
Political Stakes Rise
The Datia by-election, if held, is expected to become a high-stakes contest. BJP is weighing multiple options, including a possible larger political move involving Narottam Mishra, with discussions also emerging around his potential elevation to the Rajya Sabha to address caste dynamics.
Political observers note that the outcome of the legal proceedings will be crucial in determining Bharati’s political future, while also shaping the electoral battle in Datia.
With both legal and political developments unfolding simultaneously, Datia is set to remain a key political hotspot in the coming weeks.
