After months of efforts to stage a political return, former Madhya Pradesh minister Narottam Mishra was not given a ticket by the BJP for the Datia Assembly bypoll on July 30. The party instead named organisational leader Ashutosh Tiwari as its candidate. The move surprised many who had seen Mishra as the likely choice. The six-time MLA had spent recent months visiting Datia frequently, holding long meetings with local leaders and workers to build support. He had also collected a nomination form days earlier. The vacancy arose after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti lost his seat following a conviction in an old bank fraud case. Mishra had represented the area for nearly two decades until his defeat in the 2023 election. That loss reduced his influence within the BJP. He later focused on party work and outreach while remaining an important strategist. Some local BJP members resisted his return, arguing the constituency needed fresh leadership. The party chose Tiwari, who has worked mainly in organisational roles after starting in the ABVP and later serving as divisional organisation secretary. He also held a cabinet-rank post in the housing board. Tiwari has no ties to local factions and is viewed as a neutral choice to unite the unit. After the announcement he thanked the leadership and praised Mishra as a senior figure. Mishra rose through the BJP youth wing and played a key role in the 2020 fall of the Congress government in the state. As home minister he was known for strict positions on law and order and cultural issues.
