The unrest began after the Bharatiya Janata Party announced Ashutosh Tiwari as its candidate for the Datia bypoll, replacing Mishra, who had represented the constituency for three consecutive terms before losing the 2023 Assembly election. The decision triggered strong reactions from party workers and supporters, with demonstrations breaking out across Datia.

Addressing supporters amid the controversy, Mishra said the BJP's decision should be accepted and urged workers not to create unnecessary tension. He stressed that candidate selection is the party's prerogative and appealed to everyone to remain disciplined.

"It is the party's decision. There should not be such a commotion over it," Mishra said while requesting supporters to maintain calm and avoid actions that could harm the organisation.

Despite the emotional response from supporters, Mishra indicated that he would continue to work for the BJP and later signalled that he would actively participate in campaigning for the party's official candidate in the Datia by-election.

The protests, however, turned volatile on Friday. Supporters blocked the Gwalior-Jhansi National Highway, leading to massive traffic disruption. Police were forced to intervene after stone-pelting was reported during the demonstrations. Authorities used tear gas to disperse the crowd and restore normalcy. Senior police officials were also caught in the unrest while trying to control the situation.

The political fallout extended beyond street protests. Reports indicated that several local BJP functionaries expressed dissatisfaction over the ticket distribution, with resignations from sections of the district organisation adding to the pressure on the party leadership.

The Datia Assembly seat became vacant after Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti lost his membership following his conviction in a bank fraud case, paving the way for the by-election. Bharti had defeated Narottam Mishra in the 2023 Assembly election, ending the BJP veteran's long winning streak from the constituency.

Datia is considered one of the most politically significant constituencies in Madhya Pradesh. Mishra has remained one of the BJP's most prominent leaders in the state, having served as Home Minister and held several key portfolios in previous governments. His exclusion from the bypoll has therefore attracted attention well beyond the constituency, with political observers viewing the development as an important organisational decision ahead of future electoral battles.

The Election Commission has scheduled polling for the Datia Assembly by-election later this month, with nomination filing currently underway. As campaigning gathers pace, the BJP leadership will be looking to contain internal dissatisfaction while presenting a united front in what has emerged as one of the state's closely watched electoral contests.