Assembly bypolls: BJP fields Ashutosh Tiwari from MP's Datia
Bhopal/New Delhi, July 10 The Bharatiya Janata Party has announced its candidates for the upcoming Assembly by-elections in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, marking a significant step in its electoral preparations.
In a press release issued from the party's central office in New Delhi on July 10, 2026, the BJP's Central Election Committee confirmed the names of two candidates who will contest in these crucial constituencies.
For Madhya Pradesh, the party has approved the candidature of Ashutosh Tiwari from the Datia constituency. Datia, known for its political vibrancy, has often been a keenly watched seat in the state's electoral contests.
By fielding Tiwari, the BJP appears to be reinforcing its organisational strength in the region, aiming to consolidate its base ahead of the by-polls. The announcement underscores the party's strategy of placing trusted faces in constituencies where local dynamics play a decisive role.
The Datia Assembly by-election in Madhya Pradesh is scheduled for July 30, with the counting of votes on August 3, 2026.
The seat fell vacant in April following the disqualification of Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti, who previously defeated BJP heavyweight Narottam Mishra in the 2023 elections. In 2023, Rajendra Bharti (INC) won the Datia seat by 7,742 votes, defeating Narottam Mishra.
Bharti's legislative membership was later terminated following his sentencing in a fraud case, leading to this current bypoll.
In Bihar, the BJP has made a notable change to its earlier announcement. The Central Election Committee, in its July 7 declaration, had named Abhishek Kumar as the candidate for the Bankipur constituency.
However, the latest press release confirms that Neeraj Kumar Sinha will now contest from Bankipur in place of Kumar. This substitution indicates the party's recalibration of its electoral approach, possibly in response to evolving ground realities and feedback from local cadres.
Bankipur, situated in the heart of Patna, has long been a politically significant seat, and the BJP's decision to field Sinha highlights its intent to strengthen its prospects in the state capital.
With these announcements, the BJP has set the stage for intense campaigning in both states, as the by-elections are expected to draw considerable attention from political observers and voters alike.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Ashutosh Tiwari ko field karke BJP ne sahi decision liya hai. Wo local connect rakhte hain aur party ka grassroots network strong hai. Bas kabhi kabar public ko bhi genuinely sunna chahiye, just winning is not always everything.
Bankipur mein candidate badalna — this shows internal churning. Neeraj Kumar Sinha ko late entry ka advantage milega? Abhishek Kumar ko hata diya, matlab kuch gadbad thi ground report mein. Patna mein ye seat BJP ke liye prestige issue hai.
🤔 Kaunse regional parties ko kya fayda hoga? Congress ne Datia mein koi counter-plan nahi dikhaya abhi. By-election turnout usually low hota hai, so BJP ka cadre management decisive rahega. But fraud case mein disqualification — voters ko integrity issue remind hoga.
At least BJP is showing organisational discipline by announcing candidates on time. But thoda controversial part ye hai ki Rajendra Bharti ko disqualify hua toh bypoll hui, warna seat pe Congress ka hi raja tha. Democracy mein legal battles ka role growing hai.
Interesting to see how internal party dynamics play out in Bankipur. Candidate substitution usually means friction — let's see if Neeraj Kumar Sinha can unite the factions. If he does, it's a masterstroke; if not, the Congress might sneak in.
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