BJP Tries to Calm Discontent After Denying Ticket to Senior Leader Narottam Mishra

In the Datia Assembly by-election in Madhya Pradesh, there was a lot of furore over the denial of ticket to senior leader Narottam Mishra by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Now the party is engaged in pacifying the discontent. The party has nominated Ashutosh Tiwari instead of Narottam Mishra for the by-election to be held on July 30, after which resentment was seen among the party workers. On Friday, in protest against the decision to change the ticket, Narottam Mishra's supporters blocked National Highway-44 for about 12 hours. There was also stone-pelting in the clash between the protesters and the police, in which many jawans, including the Superintendent of Police of Datia, were injured. To control the situation, the police had to fire tear gas shells and many people were detained. Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Deora reached Datia on Saturday evening. He offered prayers at the famous Maa Pitambara temple and met local BJP leaders and workers. When asked if he prayed to the goddess to end the ongoing dispute within the party, Deora said, "May all the blessings and good wishes of the small family come forward."