A major political controversy unfolded in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia district after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denied a bypoll ticket to senior party leader and former Home Minister Narottam Mishra. The decision triggered widespread protests by his supporters, who blocked National Highway-44, clashed with police, and brought normal life in the district to a standstill.
The unrest began after the BJP announced Ashutosh Tiwari as its candidate for the July 30 Datia Assembly by-election, overlooking Mishra, who had been widely expected to contest the seat. Mishra, a prominent BJP leader and former minister, had reportedly obtained a nomination form, fuelling speculation about his return to electoral politics. The party’s decision to field a first-time candidate instead came as a shock to his loyal supporters.
According to reports, more than 3,000 supporters gathered in protest and blocked National Highway-44 for nearly 12 hours. The blockade resulted in traffic jams stretching up to 15 kilometres, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded. Protesters staged sit-ins on the highway, while some removed their shirts and lay on the road in a dramatic display of dissent. Many raised slogans demanding that the BJP reconsider its decision and declare “Narottam Dada” as the party’s official candidate.
#WATCH | Datia, MP | Heavy security deployed at the spot where supporters of former State Home Minister Narottam Mishra pelted stones at Police in Datia as they protested after the BJP denied him a ticket for the upcoming assembly bypoll.
Thousands of his followers blocked… pic.twitter.com/9Yj9JKiI7P
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) July 11, 2026
The protest soon turned violent as demonstrators clashed with police personnel deployed to clear the highway. Stone-pelting by protesters reportedly injured Datia Superintendent of Police Mayur Khandelwal and several other police officers. Police responded by firing tear gas shells to disperse the crowd and restore order. Several vehicles, including police vehicles, were damaged during the clashes, and multiple protesters were later taken into custody.
Speaking on the incident, SP Mayur Khandelwal said police had initially attempted to persuade the protesters to vacate the highway, citing the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the by-election. However, after negotiations failed and the crowd allegedly resorted to stone-pelting, police used tear gas to control the situation.
The political fallout extended beyond the protests. A large number of local BJP leaders, including booth-level workers and the district unit president, reportedly resigned in protest and issued the party a 24-hour ultimatum to reconsider its candidate selection or face further internal rebellion.
Meanwhile, Narottam Mishra appealed to his supporters to maintain peace and refrain from violence. Addressing the unrest, he stated that the party’s decision should be respected and urged workers not to indulge in extreme actions after videos surfaced showing some individuals threatening self-harm. He emphasized that disagreements should be expressed through the party’s internal democratic mechanisms rather than through public agitation.
The Datia Assembly seat fell vacant following the disqualification of Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti in connection with a bank fraud case. With the by-election scheduled for July 30, the constituency remains politically significant in the Gwalior-Chambal region. Authorities have deployed additional police personnel across the district to prevent further disturbances and maintain law and order.
