Datia by-election: BJP nominates Ashutosh Tiwari, Narottam Mishra emotional

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) filed the nomination papers of Ashutosh Tiwari for the Datia assembly by‑poll in Madhya Pradesh. The filing was attended by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal and former Home Minister Narottam Mishra. Mishra, who was denied a party ticket after six terms as MLA, broke down in tears during the rally but pledged to campaign across every village for Tiwari, saying he would “go door‑to‑door” to secure victory.

The BJP’s campaign strategy for the seat includes a roster of senior leaders and central ministers, while the Congress has fielded Kunwar Ghanshyam Singh, a member of Datia’s royal family. Following Mishra’s ticket denial, his supporters blocked National Highway‑44 for over ten hours, leading to traffic jams, stone‑pelting incidents and the resignation of around 300 local party office‑bearers. Despite the unrest, Mishra publicly affirmed his commitment to the party’s decision and urged workers to unite behind the BJP candidate.

Polling is scheduled for 30 July with counting on 3 August. The contest is seen as a test of the BJP’s internal cohesion and its ability to retain the seat after the previous MLA’s conviction.