Datia bypoll: BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari vows to justify party's faith after surprise pick
Synopsis
The BJP's choice for the Datia Assembly bypoll turned heads: not the widely expected Narottam Mishra, who had already bought nomination papers, but organisation veteran Ashutosh Tiwari. With the Delhi High Court clearing the legal path by rejecting Rajendra Bharti's plea, polling is set for 30 July — and the Congress has yet to even name a rival.
Key Takeaways
BJP named Ashutosh Tiwari as its candidate for the Datia Assembly by-election in Madhya Pradesh on 10 July 2025 .
The pick surprised political circles as former Home Minister Narottam Mishra had been widely expected and had already purchased nomination papers.
The Datia seat fell vacant after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified following a criminal conviction.
The Delhi High Court dismissed Bharti's plea to stay his conviction, clearing the legal path for the bypoll.
Polling is scheduled for 30 July ; counting of votes on 3 August .
The Congress is yet to announce its candidate for the seat.
Ashutosh Tiwari, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s newly nominated candidate for the Datia Assembly by-election in Madhya Pradesh, on Friday, 10 July pledged to honour the trust placed in him by the party's leadership, describing his selection as a reflection of the BJP's commitment to its grassroots workers.
Tiwari's Reaction to the Nomination
Speaking shortly after his candidature was announced, Tiwari said, 'I am grateful to the party's central and state leadership for giving me this responsibility. The BJP has always respected its dedicated workers, and I will work with full commitment to justify the confidence shown in me.'
He added that the bypoll would be contested on the BJP government's development agenda under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. 'The people of Datia have seen the work done by the BJP governments at both the Centre and the state. I will reach every voter with the party's achievements and seek their blessings,' he said.
Why the Datia Seat Fell Vacant
The Datia Assembly seat became vacant after former Indian National Congress (Congress) MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified following his conviction in a criminal case. The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed Bharti's plea seeking a stay on his conviction, effectively removing the last legal hurdle to the bypoll proceeding.
Polling is scheduled for 30 July, with vote counting set for 3 August. The Congress is yet to announce its candidate for the seat.
The Surprise Factor: Narottam Mishra Passed Over
Tiwari's nomination caught political observers off guard. Former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra had been widely tipped as the BJP's choice and had even purchased nomination papers earlier in the week, preparing to file before the party's announcement. The decision to field Tiwari instead has reportedly generated some surprise among a section of party workers.
Responding to those reactions, Tiwari invoked the BJP's organisational ethos. 'Our party is organisation-centric. Every worker follows the party's decision. I am confident that all senior leaders and workers will work together to ensure the BJP's victory,' he said.
Who Is Ashutosh Tiwari
Tiwari has served as the BJP's Divisional Organisation Secretary and subsequently as Chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Housing Board with Cabinet rank — a profile that underscores his standing as an organisation man rather than a mass-facing electoral face. His selection signals the BJP's preference, at least in this instance, for a loyalist over a high-profile name.
What Comes Next
With polling just weeks away, the BJP will look to consolidate behind Tiwari while the Congress races to name a candidate of its own. The bypoll is being watched as a test of the BJP's hold over Datia, a constituency in the Gwalior-Chambal belt that has historically leaned towards the saffron party. How quickly the party closes ranks around an unexpected pick will be the first indicator of its electoral readiness.
Point of View
A former Home Minister with a high public profile, was the presumptive choice; bypassing him in favour of an organisation secretary signals that the central leadership is either managing Mishra's political trajectory or testing whether the party machinery can win without a marquee name. In the Gwalior-Chambal belt, where caste arithmetic and local strongmen matter enormously, fielding a lower-profile loyalist carries real electoral risk. The Congress, still without a candidate, has an unexpected window — if it moves quickly enough to exploit the BJP's internal optics.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the BJP candidate for the Datia Assembly by-election?
The BJP has nominated Ashutosh Tiwari for the Datia Assembly by-election in Madhya Pradesh. Tiwari is a former Divisional Organisation Secretary of the BJP and ex-Chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Housing Board with Cabinet rank.
Why is the Datia Assembly seat up for a by-election?
The Datia seat fell vacant after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified following his conviction in a criminal case. The Delhi High Court subsequently dismissed his plea to stay the conviction, clearing the way for the bypoll.
When is the Datia bypoll scheduled?
Polling for the Datia Assembly by-election is scheduled for 30 July 2025 , with counting of votes on 3 August 2025 .
Why was Ashutosh Tiwari's nomination a surprise?
Former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra had been widely expected to be the BJP's candidate and had even purchased nomination papers before the party announced Tiwari's name, making the decision a notable departure from expectations in political circles.
Has the Congress announced its Datia bypoll candidate?
As of 10 July 2025, the Congress had not yet announced its candidate for the Datia Assembly by-election.
