Overview
- Campaigning closed on Tuesday and polling is set for July 30 with counting scheduled for August 3.
- The Datia district administration has classified 291 polling stations and will deploy CRPF, SAF and state police plus 215 micro-observers and 1,280 external polling staff to monitor the vote.
- The main contest pits BJP newcomer Ashutosh Tiwari against Congress veteran Ghanashyam Singh with Aazad Samaj Party's Damodar Singh Yadav making the race three-way.
- BJP leaders accused the Congress of preparing to delegitimise results by blaming EVMs and promoted a proposed Defence Park as a future jobs project, while Congress has focused on farmer distress and alleged shortfalls in OBC reservation benefits.
- Tiwari's ticket has caused friction among supporters of former BJP minister Narottam Mishra and party unity on the ground will be watched as results are seen as a test of local party organisation and state-level leadership.