Bhopal/New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its candidates for the upcoming Assembly by-elections in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, marking a significant step in its electoral preparations.

In a press release issued from the party’s central office in New Delhi on July 10, 2026, the BJP’s Central Election Committee confirmed the names of two candidates who will contest in these crucial constituencies.

For Madhya Pradesh, the party has approved the candidature of Ashutosh Tiwari from the Datia constituency. Datia, known for its political vibrancy, has often been a keenly watched seat in the state’s electoral contests.

By fielding Tiwari, the BJP appears to be reinforcing its organisational strength in the region, aiming to consolidate its base ahead of the by-polls. The announcement underscores the party’s strategy of placing trusted faces in constituencies where local dynamics play a decisive role.

The Datia Assembly by-election in Madhya Pradesh is scheduled for July 30, with the counting of votes on August 3, 2026.

The seat fell vacant in April following the disqualification of Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti, who previously defeated BJP heavyweight Narottam Mishra in the 2023 elections. In 2023, Rajendra Bharti (INC) won the Datia seat by 7,742 votes, defeating Narottam Mishra.

Bharti’s legislative membership was later terminated following his sentencing in a fraud case, leading to this current bypoll.

In Bihar, the BJP has made a notable change to its earlier announcement. The Central Election Committee, in its July 7 declaration, had named Abhishek Kumar as the candidate for the Bankipur constituency.

However, the latest press release confirms that Neeraj Kumar Sinha will now contest from Bankipur in place of Kumar. This substitution indicates the party’s recalibration of its electoral approach, possibly in response to evolving ground realities and feedback from local cadres.

Bankipur, situated in the heart of Patna, has long been a politically significant seat, and the BJP’s decision to field Sinha highlights its intent to strengthen its prospects in the state capital.

With these announcements, the BJP has set the stage for intense campaigning in both states, as the by-elections are expected to draw considerable attention from political observers and voters alike.

–IANS

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