Kathmandu— BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari holds a significant early lead in the Datia Assembly bypoll count with 1184 votes over his Congress rival Ghanshyam Singh. Tiwari expressed confidence in victory, attributing it to voter support for Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's development initiatives and governance.

Tiwari Cites Voter Support

Speaking to reporters, Tiwari emphasized the electorate’s trust in the BJP government. 'The voters have extended their blessings to the BJP government based on its agenda of development,' he said. Tiwari's lead comes after a voter turnout of nearly 72% during polling held on July 30.

BJP District President Criticizes Opposition

Raghuveer Sharan Kushwaha, the BJP district president, criticized the opposition Congress party for internal conflicts and leadership issues. 'The results will be positive; the Congress is in decline due to its fractured leadership,' he told ANI.

Stringent Security Measures

Datia Superintendent of Police Mayur Khandelwal outlined comprehensive security arrangements, including a three-layer perimeter and strict crowd control measures. Over 400 personnel were deployed with additional reserves on standby to ensure smooth operations during the count.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.