The Congress intensified its preparations for the upcoming Datia Assembly by-election on Saturday by holding a major workers’ convention, where senior party leaders gathered to discuss electoral strategy and organizational coordination. The meeting, however, began on an unusual note as former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Jitu Patwari arrived nearly four hours behind the scheduled time.

Despite the delay, party workers welcomed the leaders enthusiastically at the venue, a hotel in Datia, where hundreds of Congress members and local leaders had assembled since the morning. Following their arrival around 2 p.m., Digvijaya Singh and Jitu Patwari interacted with party workers before joining the closed-door deliberations. Local leaders later addressed the gathering, while party workers awaited speeches from the senior leadership.

The convention is being viewed as a crucial exercise ahead of the Datia by-election, with the Congress expected to finalize its electoral strategy and possibly identify its candidate for the prestigious contest. Party insiders believe the discussions are aimed not only at strengthening the campaign but also at resolving internal differences that have surfaced over ticket distribution.

Several prominent Congress leaders have emerged as potential contenders for the bypoll ticket. Former MLA Ghanshyam Singh and former Minister Awadhesh Nayak are among the leading aspirants. At the same time, supporters of former MLA Rajendra Bharti have been demanding that the party consider a member of his family for the nomination. District Congress president Ashok Dangi Bagda and city Congress president Ajay Shukla are also reportedly in the race.

The event also revived memories of the controversy surrounding the 2023 Assembly election ticket. Political circles have long maintained that Awadhesh Nayak’s candidature was dropped at the last moment after Rajendra Bharti secured the party nomination. Addressing party workers, Nayak referred to that episode, saying his ticket had been finalized before being withdrawn under unexpected circumstances. Nevertheless, he asserted that he would fully support whichever candidate the Congress ultimately chooses, stressing that defeating the BJP remains the party’s priority.

Former MLA Ghanshyam Singh also attempted to project unity, stating that he had no personal insistence on contesting the election and would stand by the party’s decision. However, he acknowledged that both Rajendra Bharti’s family and Awadhesh Nayak had legitimate claims for consideration.

While the meeting focused on electoral planning, it also exposed organizational concerns within the party. Senior Congress leader Raju Dangi publicly questioned the strength of the party’s grassroots network by highlighting the low attendance of booth-level presidents at the convention. Addressing the senior leadership from the stage, he remarked that ordinary workers often receive attention only during elections and are ignored for the rest of the political cycle.

Signs of factionalism were also visible outside the conference hall, where some workers wore T-shirts carrying slogans expressing opposition to a local leader, underscoring the internal challenges the Congress faces ahead of the by-election.

Meanwhile, former MLA Rajendra Bharti remained absent from the convention. Party leaders said he is currently in Delhi following a medical procedure and is also awaiting a hearing scheduled for July 8 in connection with an election-related matter before the High Court.

Originally planned for Thursday, the workers’ convention was rescheduled to ensure the participation of senior leaders. Apart from Digvijaya Singh and Jitu Patwari, several other prominent Congress figures were expected to attend, reflecting the importance the party is attaching to the Datia bypoll.

Political observers believe the outcome of the closed-door meeting could determine not only the party’s candidate but also its campaign strategy, as the Congress seeks to present a united front against the BJP in one of Madhya Pradesh’s closely watched electoral contests.