BJP denies Narottam Mishra ticket for Datia bypoll, triggering violent protests
The BJP denied former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra a ticket for the July 30 Datia Assembly by-election, instead fielding Ashutosh Tiwari. The bypoll was necessitated after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified following a 2018 bank fraud conviction. Mishra’s supporters violently protested, blocking National Highway 44, clashing with police, and injuring officers. Mishra was summoned to Bhopal and later visited Delhi, where he was told to accept the decision. He publicly backed down, urging calm. Tiwari filed his nomination on July 13 with CM Mohan Yadav present.
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BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari Files Nomination for Datia Bypoll After Party Denies Ticket to Narottam Mishra
On July 13, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ashutosh Tiwari filed his nomination for the July 30 Datia assembly bypoll in Madhya Pradesh. The by-election was triggered after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti lost his seat following a conviction in a cheating case. Tiwari filed papers in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, former minister Narottam Mishra (whom the party denied the ticket), and other senior leaders. The decision to field Tiwari over Mishra, a six-time MLA, caused internal party friction, with Mishra's supporters protesting. The bypoll was necessitated after a Delhi court sentenced Bharti to three years' imprisonment in April 2026. Votes will be counted on August 3.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.BJP Leader Narottam Mishra Told to Accept Party's Bypoll Choice After Delhi Visit
BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra visited Delhi on July 12, 2026, amid controversy over his denial of a bypoll ticket for the Datia Assembly seat. Though Mishra claimed he went to Delhi 'just like that' and did not meet any high command leaders, sources said he met BJP national president Nitin Nabin and was instructed to back down and calm his supporters. The ticket denial had triggered violent protests in Datia, with Mishra's supporters clashing with police, injuring eight officers. Mishra publicly accepted the party's decision, stating he would work as a dedicated party worker and introspect on his shortcomings. Senior BJP leaders, including Deputy CM Jagdish Devda and state party in-charge Mahendra Singh, visited Datia to pacify workers and prepare for the July 30 bypoll. The BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari will face Congress's Ghanshyam Singh and Azad Samaj Party's Damodar Yadav in a potential three-way contest.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Narottam Mishra summoned to Bhopal after violent protests by supporters over Datia by-election ticket denial
Former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra was summoned to Bhopal by BJP state leadership a day after his supporters staged violent protests in Datia over being denied a ticket for the July 30 by-election. The BJP selected debutant Ashutosh Tiwari instead. Protesters blocked National Highway-44 for over 10 hours, clashed with police, and resorted to stone pelting and vandalism. Many local BJP functionaries resigned in protest. Mishra urged calm and said he would convince supporters to campaign for the party candidate. Senior leaders including Kailash Vijayvargiya and Deputy CM Jagdish Devda ruled out changing the candidate, emphasizing party discipline.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Datia Byelection: Narottam Mishra's supporters clash with police, block highway after BJP ticket snub
In Madhya Pradesh's Datia district, over 3,000 supporters of senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra clashed with police and blocked National Highway 44 for nearly 12 hours on July 11, 2026. The protest erupted after the BJP denied Mishra a ticket for the July 30 Assembly byelection, instead fielding Ashutosh Tiwari. The blockade left the Datia Superintendent of Police and several other officers injured after protesters pelted stones. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob and arrested some agitators. The protest also saw damage to police and other vehicles. Mishra, a former state minister, had lost the Datia seat to Congress's Rajendra Bharti in 2023; Bharti was later disqualified due to a court sentence, triggering the bypoll. Some local BJP office-bearers resigned in protest, while Tiwari expressed gratitude and said Mishra would campaign for the party.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.BJP Denies Ticket to Narottam Mishra, Fields Ashutosh Tiwari for Datia Bypoll
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has selected Ashutosh Tiwari as its candidate for the July 30 by-election in Madhya Pradesh's Datia Assembly constituency, denying a ticket to former state Home Minister Narottam Mishra. The bypoll was necessitated after sitting Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti's membership was cancelled in April 2026 following his conviction in a 2015 bank fraud case. Mishra, a three-term MLA from Datia who lost to Bharti in 2023, had been widely expected to contest again and had begun campaigning. However, the BJP leadership opted for Tiwari, a close aide of former Chief Minister Uma Bharti with an RSS background. The decision reportedly stemmed from negative local feedback on Mishra's chances and internal party dynamics. Mishra's supporters staged protests in Datia, and local traders threatened a market shutdown. The Congress party has not yet announced its candidate. The last date for nominations is July 13, with counting on August 3.
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