The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) affirmed its decision to maintain Ashutosh Tiwari as its candidate for the Datia Assembly by-election, dismissing speculations of a change despite unrest in Datia. Senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya emphasized the party’s tradition of not altering announced candidates, expressing confidence in Tiwari’s candidacy and confirming Narottam Mishra’s support for the official nominee.
Vijayvargiya revealed that Mishra had tried to reach out following the candidate announcement, highlighting the challenge of accommodating numerous aspiring candidates within the party. He assured that any internal discord among BJP members would resolve soon, underscoring the party’s discipline and unity behind Tiwari for the upcoming election.
The BJP’s selection of Tiwari for the by-election, scheduled for July 30, followed the Delhi High Court’s ruling on former Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti’s conviction. This decision led to protests by Mishra’s supporters, including resignations of local party officials and violent demonstrations in Datia. Meanwhile, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh took a satirical dig at the BJP for the public dissent within its ranks, acknowledging Mishra’s impact on the political landscape.
