That transition appears to have been more difficult than the BJP anticipated, party leaders acknowledged. Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda, senior organisational leaders, ministers and legislators were deployed across the constituency. The Congress tried to run a hyper local campaign focussing on farmer distress over erratic rainfall, fertiliser shortages and unemployment among youth. Congress leaders said they deliberately built its campaign around local concerns while simultaneously attempting to exploit dissatisfaction within sections of the BJP organisation. One of the more intriguing signals from the Datia bypoll lies in where voters turned out.