Congress suspends disqualified ex-MLA ahead of Datia by-poll counting
Former MLA Rajendra Bharti, who was disqualified from the Madhya Pradesh Assembly in April after his conviction in a cheating case, said the action did not affect him and that he would show his strength in the next state polls.
The Congress on Sunday night suspended former Madhya Pradesh MLA Rajendra Bharti from the party's primary membership, hours before counting of votes for the July 30 Datia Assembly by-polls was set to begin.
Bharti, who was disqualified from the Assembly in April after his conviction in a cheating case, said the action did not affect him and that he would show his strength in the next assembly elections.
He also said the decision was wrong and that the public would respond to it in the 2028 Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls.
Bharti had represented the Datia seat before his disqualification. A Delhi court had sentenced him to three years' imprisonment in the cheating case in April, which led to the termination of his Assembly membership.
The by-poll was held on July 30, with 71.44 per cent voting, and the result is to be declared today.
Speaking to reporters, Bharti alleged that the entire episode was a 'conspiracy' by senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra. He also alleged that Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh had contested the election in collusion with Mishra.
Bharti said his struggle had always been against Mishra and would continue.
Bharti had defeated Mishra by more than 7,700 votes in the 2023 Assembly elections. The Congress fielded Singh in the by-poll, while BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari was among 19 other candidates in the fray.
The Congress on Sunday night suspended former Madhya Pradesh MLA Rajendra Bharti from the party's primary membership, hours before counting of votes for the July 30 Datia Assembly by-polls was set to begin.
Bharti, who was disqualified from the Assembly in April after his conviction in a cheating case, said the action did not affect him and that he would show his strength in the next assembly elections.
He also said the decision was wrong and that the public would respond to it in the 2028 Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls.
Bharti had represented the Datia seat before his disqualification. A Delhi court had sentenced him to three years' imprisonment in the cheating case in April, which led to the termination of his Assembly membership.
The by-poll was held on July 30, with 71.44 per cent voting, and the result is to be declared today.
Speaking to reporters, Bharti alleged that the entire episode was a 'conspiracy' by senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra. He also alleged that Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh had contested the election in collusion with Mishra.
Bharti said his struggle had always been against Mishra and would continue.
Bharti had defeated Mishra by more than 7,700 votes in the 2023 Assembly elections. The Congress fielded Singh in the by-poll, while BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari was among 19 other candidates in the fray.
The Congress on Sunday night suspended former Madhya Pradesh MLA Rajendra Bharti from the party's primary membership, hours before counting of votes for the July 30 Datia Assembly by-polls was set to begin.
Bharti, who was disqualified from the Assembly in April after his conviction in a cheating case, said the action did not affect him and that he would show his strength in the next assembly elections.
He also said the decision was wrong and that the public would respond to it in the 2028 Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls.
Bharti had represented the Datia seat before his disqualification. A Delhi court had sentenced him to three years' imprisonment in the cheating case in April, which led to the termination of his Assembly membership.
The by-poll was held on July 30, with 71.44 per cent voting, and the result is to be declared today.
Speaking to reporters, Bharti alleged that the entire episode was a 'conspiracy' by senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra. He also alleged that Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh had contested the election in collusion with Mishra.
Bharti said his struggle had always been against Mishra and would continue.
Bharti had defeated Mishra by more than 7,700 votes in the 2023 Assembly elections. The Congress fielded Singh in the by-poll, while BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari was among 19 other candidates in the fray.
