Violence erupts in Datia after BJP denies bypoll ticket to Narottam Mishra

Violence broke out in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district on Friday (July 10) and into Saturday (July 11) after the BJP denied a ticket to senior leader and former minister Narottam Mishra for the July 30 assembly bypoll.

Supporters block highway

Thousands of Mishra's supporters blocked National Highway-44 for nearly 12 hours, forcing police to intervene. Protesters refused repeated appeals to disperse, hurled stones at security personnel and damaged police vehicles, prompting police to fire teargas shells to regain control, Datia collector Swapnil Wankhede told reporters.

Also Read: ‘Hema Malini was made to dance’: MP minister Narottam Mishra stirs controversy again

More than six policemen, including Datia Superintendent of Police Mayur Khandelwal, were injured during the violence. Some protesters were arrested after the highway was cleared.

Ticket denial sparks anger

The unrest followed the BJP's decision to field Ashutosh Tiwari instead of Mishra, who had reportedly expected the nomination and even purchased his nomination papers. Before the confrontation escalated, supporters staged protests, with some lying shirtless on the road. One supporter declared they would not back down until "Narottam Dada" received the ticket.

Also Read: MP polls: BJP confident of winning Datia again as Congress bungles its chances

Mishra was once among the party's most influential leaders, serving as Home Minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government and later leading a major organisational campaign that inducted thousands of workers from rival parties.

Yet, despite his stature and extensive groundwork in Datia after his 2023 defeat, the party leadership chose Ashutosh Tiwari, an RSS-backed organisational leader, as its candidate.

However, following the violence, Mishra urged his supporters to remain calm. "This is the party's decision. I urge all party workers, especially after seeing videos on social media of workers pouring petrol or kerosene, not to engage in such actions. Within the party forum, views are expressed in an appropriate manner. They are not conveyed in this fashion," he said as quoted by ANI.

Power equations debated

The decision has fuelled speculation that the BJP wanted to avoid reviving another powerful political centre in the state. Mishra's return through a bypoll victory could have reopened discussions about a Cabinet berth and altered the balance of power within Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's government, reported NDTV.

Also Read: Pathan song ‘Besharam rang’: MP minister sends out a warning

The report further stated that the BJP has backed a relatively low-profile candidate while signalling that organisational discipline outweighs individual stature. Tiwari, apparently seeking to calm tempers, described Mishra as his mentor and said, "Mishra is a very senior leader, my guardian, and he said he will campaign for the party and me."

Past controversies

Mishra, however, is no stranger to controversies. He drew criticism after his remark stating that he had brought "development at such a level in Datia that not only cultural programs were organised, but even Hema Malini was made to dance," a statement widely criticised as disrespectful.

Earlier, he objected to the costumes, lyrics and title of the film Pathaan, demanded changes to Adipurush over its portrayal of Hindu religious figures, and called for legal action against filmmaker Leena Manimekalai over the poster of her documentary Kaali.

His political attacks have also frequently made headlines, including when he described Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra as "Congress Chodo Yatra."

(With agency inputs)