Datia: Protest by BJP leader's supporters over poll ticket

In MP, supporters of senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra took to the streets in Datia District after the former minister was denied a ticket for the July 30 assembly by-election. The protest turned violent on Saturday morning as the protesters clashed with police on the national highway NH-44, blocking traffic. The protest—sparked after the party denied Mishra the ticket and fielded Ashutosh Tiwari instead—involved stone-pelting, overturned vehicles, injuries to several police officers and multiple detentions.

STORY | MP bypoll: Narottam Mishra's supporters clash with cops, block highway after ticket snub

Violence erupted in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district on Saturday, as supporters of senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra clashed with police and blocked a national highway after the… pic.twitter.com/yohYkxcFgE

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 11, 2026

The blockade began on Friday evening and continued through the night, Datia District Magistrate (DM) Swapnil Wankhede said, leaving a traffic jam stretching 20–25 kilometres that affected Datia, Jhansi, Shivpuri and Gwalior districts. “Eight of our personnel sustained serious injuries. The SDPO suffered a severe hand injury. Both the SP and ASP were hurt. I also sustained a blow to the head, though I was wearing a helmet,” Wankhede said, describing damage to police and commercial vehicles.

VIDEO | Madhya Pradesh: Heavy police has been deployed after BJP workers protest over former Madhya Pradesh minister Narottam Mishra being denied a ticket by the BJP for the Datia Assembly bypoll.

Swapnil Wankhade, District Magistrate of Datia, says, "There was an 11.5-12-hour… pic.twitter.com/orufXB5yiH

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 11, 2026

Superintendent of Police (SP) Datia Mayur Khandelwal said more than 3,000 people were involved in the protest and several tried to shut down markets in Datia city. “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,” he said, adding that more than six policemen sustained serious injuries and were admitted to the hospital. A few protesters were arrested and police warned of strict action against those who continue to engage in violence.
Narottam Mishra himself accepted the party decision and appealed his supporters to calm.The Datia bypoll on July 30 was necessitated by the disqualification of Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti following his conviction in a fraud case; Bharti was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in April (he later obtained bail). The Election Commission of India (ECI) has scheduled polling for three assembly constituencies (including Datia) on July 30, with counting on August 3.