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The upcoming by-elections in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh have become high-stakes tests of prestige for the BJP and their respective Chief Ministers. Both contests, scheduled for July 30, have drawn significant attention due to unexpected internal party manoeuvring.
Bankipur battle in Bihar
In Bihar’s Bankipur seat, a BJP stronghold vacated by Nitin Nabin, the party’s candidate selection caused chaos. The BJP initially fielded Abhishek Kumar Sinha, only to replace him with Neeraj Kumar Sinha within 24 hours. The change followed reports that Abhishek’s father had been convicted in the Fodder Scam, a liability the Opposition would have certainly exploited. The oversight regarding a senior leader’s seat has raised questions about the due diligence of Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, who presumably recommended the ticket.
The seat is now the site of a high-profile three-way contest. Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, is making his electoral debut, hoping to bolster his political standing after previous setbacks. The RJD has fielded Rekha Gupta to face off against the BJP and Kishor. Notably, Tejashwi Yadav and the RJD face this battle without support from their INDIA alliance partners.
With the election doubling as a personal matter of prestige for Nitin Nabin, the BJP is expected to mobilise its full organisational strength.
Datia dilemma in Madhya Pradesh
In Madhya Pradesh, the Datia by-election has triggered internal friction within the BJP after the party denied a ticket to veteran leader and former Home Minister Narottam Mishra. This decision has sparked rare public protests by his supporters.
The by-election was necessitated by the resignation of Congress leader Rajendra Bharti, who was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison shortly after defeating Mishra in the 2023 Assembly elections.
Despite his long tenure in Datia and his close ties to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Mishra was sidelined. While the party claims internal surveys indicated strong anti-incumbency, observers believe the move is designed to consolidate Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s position by eliminating a potential rival.
Mishra has been repeatedly overlooked for a Lok Sabha ticket, the state presidency and a Rajya Sabha nomination, raising questions about his political future. The party high command has summoned him to Delhi to manage the dissent.
Meanwhile, the Congress is closely monitoring the situation before finalising its candidate, as Rajendra Bharti pushes for a family member to receive the ticket.
For Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, the Datia result is particularly critical; a defeat could negatively impact his tenure.
As nomination deadlines approach, both states remain on edge, awaiting the outcome of these pivotal political tests. The results, set for August 3, will serve as a significant indicator of the current political climate in both regions.
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