Datia. The Bharatiya Janata Party has suffered a major political setback in the Datia Assembly by-election in Madhya Pradesh. Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh defeated BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari by a margin of over 6,000 votes. This result is being considered a major political defeat in a stronghold of the BJP, raising questions about the party’s strategy, local organization, and the neglect of former Home Minister Dr. Narottam Mishra.
Ticket change decision becomes a topic of discussion –
In this by-election, the BJP had denied the ticket to senior leader Dr. Narottam Mishra, who had won from Datia several times, and nominated Ashutosh Tiwari. This decision sparked discontent among party workers even before the election. Even during the campaign, reports of internal sabotage and discontent within the organization continued to surface.
Political analysts believe that dissatisfaction among local party workers was a major reason for the BJP’s defeat.
Low voter turnout in cities exacerbated the situation –
The Datia by-election saw record voter turnout in rural areas, while the voting percentage in cities was relatively low. Many rural booths recorded 80 to 90 percent voter turnout. Booth number 62 recorded the highest turnout of 92.19 percent.
In contrast, several polling stations in Datia city recorded less than 55 percent voter turnout. Booth number 110 recorded only 43.20 percent voter turnout, the lowest in the entire assembly constituency. Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh maintained a consistent lead from the third round onwards and converted it into victory.
Narottam Mishra’s activism failed to secure victory –
After losing the 2023 assembly elections, Dr. Narottam Mishra launched a continuous public relations campaign in Datia. Before the ticket was announced, he visited villages and ward-by-ward, meeting people, acknowledging his past shortcomings and appealing for another chance.
Although he campaigned for the party even after his ticket was cut and held several meetings in support of Ashutosh Tiwari, the BJP failed to reap electoral benefits.
The situation remained unresolved even after an emotional speech –
At the first major BJP rally after his ticket was denied, Dr. Narottam Mishra became emotional from the stage and appealed to workers to ensure the party candidate’s victory. Political experts believe that his emotional outburst created an emotional atmosphere among supporters, but failed to completely allay the resentment within the organization.
It is reported that several officials resigned in protest against the ticket distribution, and in some places, workers did not show the expected activism in the campaign.
‘Warning for the National Leadership’ –
Senior journalist Prabhu Pataria called the Datia results a warning for the BJP leadership. According to him, ignoring leaders with strong support bases and deciding on tickets solely based on surveys could prove detrimental to the party in the future.
Boosted Congress Morale –
The victory in Datia is being considered a major political success for the Congress. By winning in an area long under BJP influence, the Congress has not only strengthened its support base but also boosted the morale of its workers. For the BJP, this result is being considered a signal for a comprehensive review of the organization and strategy before the upcoming elections.