BJP Nominates Ashutosh Tiwari for Datiya By-Election Amid Internal Discontent

BJP's Candidate Announcement Sparks Protests

On July 30, the Datiya assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh will hold a by-election, and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has officially named Ashutosh Tiwari as its candidate. This announcement has led to rising discontent within the party ranks. Supporters of senior BJP leader and former minister Narottam Mishra took to the streets to protest against this decision.

According to party insiders, Mishra was optimistic about receiving the ticket for this by-election and had even purchased his nomination papers. Therefore, the decision to nominate Ashutosh Tiwari is perceived as a significant setback for Mishra. Tiwari, who hails from the town of Sevdha in Datiya district, has been actively involved in the state BJP organization for a considerable time.

Following his nomination, Ashutosh Tiwari spoke to reporters outside the state BJP office, expressing gratitude to senior party leaders. Regarding Narottam Mishra, Tiwari stated, "Narottam Mishra is a very senior leader and like a guardian to me. He has assured me that he will campaign for both me and the party."

Meanwhile, the anger of Narottam Mishra's supporters erupted in Datiya as they blocked the national highway. One protester, Balram, informed a media outlet that some party workers removed their shirts and lay down on the road in protest, while others sat in a sit-in. Another supporter warned that their protests would continue until 'Narottam Dada' is given the ticket, and they might even consider leaving the BJP if necessary.

It is noteworthy that in the 2023 assembly elections, Congress leader Rajendra Bharti defeated the then Home Minister Narottam Mishra by a margin of over 7,500 votes. However, in April of this year, a Delhi court sentenced Rajendra Bharti to three years in prison for a fraud case, leading to the cancellation of his assembly membership and leaving the Datiya seat vacant. Bharti was later granted bail. The Election Commission recently announced by-elections for three assembly seats across the country, including Datiya in Madhya Pradesh, with voting scheduled for July 30 and counting on August 3.