BJP leader Narottam Mishra said he was not at all upset about the party denying him a ticket to attend the Datia meeting, adding that the BJP had given him a lot.
Violence broke out in Datia district, where Mishra’s supporters clashed with police and blocked a national highway after the BJP on Friday announced Ashutosh Tiwari as its candidate for the July 30 by-election. But Mishra denied any sabotage and said he would talk to fans to convince them
“Whatever happens, it will be good. Everyone expects a ticket. There is no problem. I am not sad at all. The party has given a lot… There was no sabotage. But we will convince them, they will agree. They are our workers…” Mishra told news agency ANI.
Read also | ‘Not the way’: BJP’s Narottam Mishra after supporters turn violent over Datia poll ticket selection
BJP rules out changing candidate for Datia bypoll
Amid protests by Mishra’s supporters, state minister Kailash Vijayvargiya ruled out any possibility of the party changing its candidate for the Datia assembly by polls.
“The BJP is a democratic party. The workers express their opinions, but they are disciplined. Once you talk to them, everyone will accept the party’s decision and Ashutosh Tiwari will win by a huge margin,” Vijayvargiya told reporters.
The minister said that he is yet to speak to Mishra but is confident that the former state home minister will stand by the party’s decision.
“Many people are preparing to contest the elections, but not everyone can get a ticket. The party’s decision is of utmost importance, and every worker will abide by it,” he said.
Protesters blocked the national highway for about 12 hours
These statements came after protests by Mishra’s supporters turned violent in Datia. More than 3,000 protesters blocked National Highway 44 for about 12 hours, injuring the district police chief and several other police personnel, officials said.
Read also | 12-hour highway closure, stone pelting: Massive protest by supporters of BJP leader Narottam Mishra on poll ticket
According to Datia Collector Swapnil Wankhede, the protesters resorted to stone-throwing after they were asked to vacate the highway, forcing police to use tear gas shells to disperse the crowd and detain some protesters. But he stressed that the police did not use force against the demonstrators.
Wankhede said the mob also vandalized police cars and other vehicles before clearing the expressway. He added that the situation is now under control.
The Datia Assembly poll became necessary after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti was disqualified after he was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison in a cheating case in April this year.
(with PTI inputs)
