Bhopal: In a dramatic political twist ahead of the crucial Datia Assembly bypoll, the Bharatiya Janata Party has denied a ticket to party heavyweight and former State Home Minister Dr Narottam Mishra. Sidelining the three term local MLA, the party has instead fielded Ashutosh Tiwari, a seasoned party worker and former regional organizational secretary.
The decision has sent shockwaves through the political corridors of Madhya Pradesh and sparked violent outrage among supporters of Mishra. Following the announcement on Friday, over 3000 furious loyalists staged a massive blockade on National Highway 44. The eleven hour demonstration paralysed traffic across Datia, Gwalior, Jhansi and Shivpuri, resulting in a 20 kilometre gridlock.
The situation rapidly deteriorated into a law and order crisis early Saturday morning. When the local administration attempted to clear the highway, protesters resorted to heavy stone pelting, forcing the police to deploy tear gas. According to Datia District Magistrate Swapnil Wankhede, at least eight police personnel, including the Superintendent of Police and Additional SP, sustained severe injuries during the clashes.
The Datia constituency, long considered an impenetrable fortress for Mishra, fell vacant in April 2026. Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti, who had surprisingly defeated Mishra in the 2023 state elections, was disqualified from the legislative assembly after a Delhi court sentenced him to three years in prison over a 2015 bank fraud case.
With the seat up for grabs on July 30, political pundits had widely anticipated the return of Mishra. The veteran leader had already launched an aggressive ground campaign, holding rallies and meeting community leaders. However, BJP insiders reveal that the unexpected ticket change was driven by cold calculations. Internal party surveys and ground level feedback allegedly highlighted his waning local support, citing his recent loss to Bharti. Furthermore, speculations suggest that top state leaders were hesitant about his potential return, as a bypoll victory would have almost certainly catapulted him back into the state cabinet and upset current power dynamics.
The new candidate, Ashutosh Tiwari, is a Datia native with deep Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh roots. A former chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Housing and Infrastructure Development Board, Tiwari is also known to be a close confidant of former Chief Minister Uma Bharti.
As the Election Commission prepares for the upcoming polls, the ruling party now faces a dual challenge. They must retain the crucial Datia seat against a yet to be announced Congress candidate while simultaneously pacifying a rebellious faction that threatens to fracture its traditional vote bank.