Datia highway blocked as BJP denies Mishra ticket

Violent protests erupted in Datia, Madhya Pradesh, on July 11, 2026, after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party denied a ticket to senior leader and former home minister Narottam Mishra for an upcoming by-election. Supporters of Mishra clashed with police, blocked a national highway for nearly 12 hours, and caused significant damage, leaving at least eight police officers injured, including the district superintendent of police.

The unrest began after the BJP announced on July 10 that it had selected Ashutosh Tiwari, an organizational functionary, as its candidate for the Datia Assembly bypoll scheduled for July 30. The decision was seen as a major setback for Mishra, a six-time former legislator from the constituency who had been actively preparing for a political comeback. Within hours of the announcement, thousands of his supporters gathered, blocking National Highway 44 and causing a traffic jam stretching up to 20 kilometers.

Officials said the protesters, estimated to number over 3,000, refused to disperse despite repeated appeals from district authorities. The situation escalated when some demonstrators began pelting stones at police personnel. Security forces responded by...