DATIA: Senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra turned emotional during the nomination rally of BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari for the Datia Assembly by-election on Monday.Mishra, in the rally, declared that he would personally campaign across every village in the constituency to ensure the party’s victory despite being denied the ticket, news agnecy ANI reported.Mishra, a former Madhya Pradesh home minister and three-time MLA from Datia, joined chief minister Mohan Yadav, state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal and other party leaders as Tiwari filed his nomination papers.Mishra’s emotional appearance came days after his supporters blocked National Highway-44 following the BJP’s decision to field Ashutosh Tiwari instead of him for the bypoll.Mishra had earlier dismissed speculation about his displeasure, saying he held “no resentment” over the party’s decision and would fulfil any responsibility assigned to him.Addressing party workers ahead of the nomination, Mishra defended the BJP government’s record in Datia and launched a sharp attack on the Congress.“20 years ago, when the Congress government led by Digvijaya Singh was in power, dacoits used to roam this region freely. When the BJP government came to power, it transformed Datia. Not a single notorious gang remains; there isn’t a single identified gang left in the area. That is what real work looks like,” he said.Taking a swipe at the opposition, Mishra said the Congress should seek votes based on its own work.“Congress people should talk about their work, show your work and then ask for votes. We are presenting our achievements; you should present yours,” he said.Seeking to put speculation over internal differences to rest after being denied the BJP ticket, Mishra asserted that there was no discord within the party.“There is no major internal conflict within the BJP; I am telling you the truth. From the 16th, I will camp right here myself. Together with all the workers, I will bow my head in respect at every single doorstep in Datia. I will visit every single village. I will ensure Ashutosh’s victory,” he said.After filing his nomination papers, Tiwari thanked the BJP leadership for reposing faith in him. “I trust the leadership and will try to meet their expectations,” he said.Responding to Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari’s claim that the Congress would register a landslide victory, Tiwari said the opposition was free to make such assertions, ANI reported.He also targeted senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, saying, “Madhya Pradesh has endured Digvijaya Singh as a loss; there is no question of them being accepted.“Narottam Mishra is our guardian and a senior party leader. We all work under the leadership of chief minister Mohan Yadav. There is no competition, and the people of Datia are with development,” he added.The Congress has fielded Kunwar Ghanshyam Singh for the Datia bypoll.The by-election was necessitated after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified following his conviction in a fraud case.Polling is scheduled for July 30, while votes will be counted on August 3.(With agency inputs)
