BJP Leader's Supporters Clash with Police in Madhya Pradesh Over Ticket Snub

Violence erupted in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district on Saturday as supporters of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Narottam Mishra clashed with police and blocked a national highway. The protest followed the party's decision to deny Mishra a ticket for the upcoming by-election to the Datia Assembly constituency.

The blockade on National Highway 44, which lasted nearly 12 hours, involved over 3,000 protesters. The Datia Superintendent of Police and several police personnel were injured before security forces cleared the highway and arrested some agitators, officials said.

The ruling BJP on Friday announced Ashutosh Tiwari as its candidate for the July 30 bypoll, a move that angered Mishra's supporters. Enraged workers staged a blockade on the highway for 11 to 12 hours, pelting stones at police despite requests to clear the road. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob, according to Datia Collector Swapnil Wankhede.

The Collector clarified that police did not use batons against the protesters. He said the angry mob damaged police and other vehicles, but the road was subsequently cleared and the situation is under control.

Datia Superintendent of Police Mayur Khandelwal told PTI Videos that more than 3,000 protesters disrupted peace in Datia town, tried to close markets, and staged a 12-hour road blockade. More than six policemen suffered injuries from stone pelting.

"We tried to pacify them, citing the enforcement of the model code of conduct in the town. However, after they refused to back down and pelted stones, cops fired teargas shells to control the situation," the senior officer said. Some protesters were arrested and warned of strict action if they resorted to violence.

Sources said that following the political development, some party office-bearers, including the district unit president and local corporators, resigned from the party in protest. Mishra, a former minister, had expected the ticket and had even purchased a nomination form, according to party sources.

Ashutosh Tiwari, a resident of Sevda town in Datia, has been active in the state BJP organisation. An elated Tiwari told reporters outside the state BJP office that he met senior party leaders and expressed gratitude. "Mishra is a very senior leader, my guardian, and he said he will campaign for the party and me," Tiwari said.

One of Mishra's supporters, Balram, told PTI Videos that some protesters took off their shirts and lay down on the road while others staged a sit-in. Another supporter said they would not relent until Mishra got the ticket and would quit the BJP if necessary.

Congress leader Rajendra Bharti defeated Mishra from Datia by over 7,500 votes in the 2023 Assembly elections. However, a Delhi court sentenced Bharti to three years' imprisonment in a cheating case in April this year, leading to his disqualification as an MLA and necessitating a bypoll. He later obtained bail.

The Election Commission of India announced the schedule for bypolls to three Assembly constituencies, including Datia. The other two seats are in Bihar and Gujarat. Voting will take place on July 30, and results will be declared on August 3.