India, Aug. 3 -- Counting of votes for the bypoll to the Datia assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh commenced on Monday, officials said.

The bypoll was necessitated after a Delhi court in April this year sentenced Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti to three years' imprisonment in a cheating case, leading to the termination of his assembly membership.

The counting process began at 8 am at the Polytechnic College under tight security, starting with postal ballots before moving on to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

A total of 21 tables, including 20 for counting of EVMs, were set up at the facility, an official said.

The Congress fielded Ghanshyam Singh from the seat while the BJP nominated Ashutosh Tiwari. Nineteen other candidates also...