Datia and Narottam Mishra have long been synonymous with each other. Datia remained the political stronghold of this prominent BJP leader, who secured three consecutive assembly victories there, establishing a firm grip on the region. His rule over the constituency was once seen as absolute. However, his fortress crumbled in the 2023 assembly elections when he faced an unexpected defeat against Rajendra Bharti. This result shocked political observers across the board. Now, the BJP has delivered an even bigger blow by denying him a ticket for the Datia by-election, raising serious questions about his political future. Has his dominance in Datia finally come to an end?
Election preparations and a sudden shift
Notably, as soon as the Election Commission announced the by-election in Datia, Narottam Mishra began conducting meetings throughout the constituency, appealing to residents for their support. Reports suggest that he had even purchased his nomination forms, but his aspirations were halted when the BJP decided to field Ashutosh Tiwari as its candidate from Datia. This development has left his future plans in uncertainty.
Early career and the journey from Dabra
Narottam Mishra was born on April 15, 1960, in Gwalior. He began his political career by joining the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. In 1998, he earned his MA and PhD degrees from Jiwaji University in Gwalior. He also served as the secretary of the Gwalior student union. Recognizing his capabilities, the BJP fielded him from Dabra in 1990, where he emerged victorious. He continued his winning streak in Dabra during the 1998 and 2003 elections.
Three consecutive wins in Datia
The turning point in his career arrived when the Dabra seat was declared reserved after the delimitation process. Consequently, the BJP moved him to the neighboring district of Datia. Between 2008 and 2018, he won three consecutive elections from Datia, cementing his authority. He was known as a grassroots leader and was highly skilled in public speaking. Alongside his duties as an MLA, he served as a minister in the cabinets of Babulal Gaur and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, holding crucial portfolios such as Home, Law and Legislative Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, and Prisons in the Madhya Pradesh government.
Rajendra Bharti and the 2023 electoral upset
In 2023, the BJP swept back to power in Madhya Pradesh with a full majority. Yet, in Datia, Narottam Mishra was defeated by Congress candidate Rajendra Bharti by over 7,000 votes. This loss was unexpected for many. In reality, the writing was on the wall as early as the 2018 election, when Mishra managed a narrow victory over Bharti by only 2,656 votes. Bharti remained consistently active in the field, leading to the reversal of the result in 2023. Subsequently, the Delhi MP-MLA court sentenced Rajendra Bharti to three years imprisonment in a bank FD fraud case, which led to the termination of his assembly membership and forced the Election Commission to hold a by-election in Datia.
Possible reasons for the ticket denial
Several reports indicate that there was significant local anti-incumbency and dissatisfaction against Narottam Mishra in Datia. Furthermore, since he hailed from Dabra, he often faced accusations of being an 'outsider' candidate. It appears the BJP did not want to take any risks, which is why the party has decided to place its bet on Ashutosh Tiwari this time.
Future prospects
The denial of the ticket is a major setback for Narottam Mishra’s supporters, but it would be premature to declare that his influence has entirely vanished. His connections extend beyond Datia into national politics, and he is known to have a strong rapport with the leadership in Delhi. It is possible that the BJP might shift him from state-level electoral politics to a significant role within the organization. Alternatively, he could be appointed as a governor of a state. Another possibility is that the party might field him in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, given his status as one of the party's most vocal and aggressive Hindu-leaning faces.
