Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Narottam Mishra Dismisses Rift Rumours With Tiwari After Datia Defeat
A big political party in India called the BJP wanted to win a special election in a town called Datia.
But their candidate, Ashutosh Tiwari, lost to Ghanshyam Singh from the Congress party.
After the loss, some people on social media said two leaders, Narottam Mishra and Ashutosh Tiwari, were fighting, and that is why the party lost.
Narottam Mishra, a former minister, said these rumours are completely not true.
He said Ashutosh is like his younger brother and their families have been close for 25 years.
The two men met warmly in Bhopal to show there is no problem between them.
The BJP also removed the leaders of its local team in Datia after the defeat.
One removed leader, Raghuveer Kushwaha, said he worked hard and asked the party to give proof of any sabotage.
Tiwari said the changes are just normal party organisation work.
The special election was needed because the old Congress leader, Rajendra Bharti, was removed after being found guilty in a bank fraud case.
Narottam Mishra dismissed speculation of a rift with Datia bypoll candidate Ashutosh Tiwari as "completely baseless," citing their 25-year family relationship.
Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh defeated BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari by 6,016 votes in the Datia Assembly bypoll, with results declared on August 3.
Mishra said Tiwari is like a younger brother, that they met warmly in Bhopal on Wednesday, and that there has never been any bitterness between them.
The Madhya Pradesh BJP dissolved its entire Datia district unit, removing the district president and all block presidents, amid an organisational review.
Removed district president Raghuveer Kushwaha objected to the dissolution and demanded proof of sabotage claims, while Tiwari called it mere organisational restructuring.
- Who
- Narottam Mishra (senior BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister), BJP bypoll candidate Ashutosh Tiwari, and Congress winner Ghanshyam Singh
- What
- Mishra dismissed rumours of a rift with Tiwari after the BJP's defeat in the Datia Assembly bypoll, amid an organisational review of the district unit
- When
- Wednesday, two days after the bypoll result was declared on August 3
- Where
- Datia and Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Why
- To counter speculation that the BJP's defeat resulted from internal factionalism and to appeal for party unity
Social media critics and removed party officials
Narottam Mishra and BJP leadership
Cause of bypoll defeat
Social media critics and removed party officials
Claims circulated that the BJP's setback resulted from internal factionalism and that Mishra, who lost Datia in 2023, did not fully back Tiwari's campaign.
Narottam Mishra and BJP leadership
Mishra called such claims baseless, said Tiwari is like a younger brother, and asserted the BJP's strength lies in unity, discipline and values.
Dissolution of the Datia district unit
Social media critics and removed party officials
Removed district president Raghuveer Kushwaha said he worked sincerely, demanded proof of sabotage claims, and argued removal without notice demoralises party workers.
Narottam Mishra and BJP leadership
The Madhya Pradesh BJP called it an organisational review after the defeat, and Tiwari said it was merely an organisational restructuring with capable leaders available.
- Election
- Datia Assembly bypoll
- Result
- Congress' Ghanshyam Singh defeated BJP's Ashutosh Tiwari by 6,016 votes
- Result declared
- August 3
- Bypoll reason
- Disqualification of Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti after bank fraud conviction in April
- BJP response
- Dissolved entire Datia district unit, including district president and all block presidents
- Mishra-Tiwari relationship
- 25-year family relationship; Mishra calls Tiwari a younger brother
- Mishra's position
- Former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister and three-time MLA from Datia
- Mishra's statement
- Issued Wednesday in Bhopal after meeting Tiwari
