MP election 2023: a closer look at Narottam Mishra's Datia Legislative Assembly seat

The Datia Legislative Assembly constituency is poised for a heated political battle as the Madhya Pradesh state elections approach. The constituency is located in the Datia district and is part of the Bhind Lok Sabha constituency. The seat is home to the revered Peetambara Peeth temple, which plays a central role in the area’s politics.  Datia has been the stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the past two decades. The incumbent leader, Narottam Mishra, currently serves as the Home Minister of Madhya Pradesh.

Infrastructural projects

During the highly publicised Vikas Parv, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that a total of 368 construction projects costing less than 100 million rupees will be inaugurated in Datia district. Bhoomipujan (groundbreaking ceremony) was held for 133 construction projects worth 16 million rupees. Priority has been given to road construction among these projects. In addition to this, the projects include the construction of school buildings, beautification of ponds, CC roads in villages, returning walls, sports fields, peace halls, street lights, open gyms, and swimming pools, among other works were also inaugurated. The incumbent CM claimed that these construction projects would change the direction and condition of the villages in the constituency. 

In August earlier this year, Chouhan and Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also laid the foundation stone of Datia Airport. The airport is being developed at a cost of around Rs 50 crore and is expected to be completed by February 2024. The development involves the renovation of the existing 1,810-m runway and the construction of an apron which can house two 19-seater aircraft a terminal building of 750 sq m and an ATC tower. The terminal building will have the capacity to accommodate 100 passengers during peak hours.

The leaders claimed that as a part of the Ude Desh Ke Aam Nagrik (UDAN)-regional connectivity scheme (RCS), Datia Airport, once operational will enhance regional connectivity, provide necessary amenities and facilities to people, and contribute to the overall growth of the region. Speaking at the ceremony, Scindia said that civil aviation would not only connect the big cities but also the religious shrines of the country.

This is in line with the current regime’s focus on redevelopment and grandisation of religious places in the state. The CM, as part of the "Maa Pitambara Prakatya Mahotsav" and Datia's Pride Day celebrations, also announced that a grand ‘Pitambara Mai Mahalok’ will be developed in Datia to “fulfil the wishes of people.” 

The current state of development in Datia

In May, earlier this year, the Datia District Hospital was accorded the prestigious Lakshya certification, along with several government hospitals in Madhya Pradesh for “outstanding performance of the hospitals.” It is noteworthy that the Datia District Hospital secured the top rank among all hospitals, achieving an impressive score of 94 per cent. But the award came right after a six-month-old boy allegedly died in his mother's arms due to the unavailability of an ambulance in the hospital in April. Incidents such as these stand as burning questions, which seek accountability and at the same time, questioning the credibility of the entire system.

BJP's Uninterrupted Dominance in Datia

The Datia Legislative Assembly seat has remained in the grip of the BJP for 20 years. Since 1993, the Congress has been unable to secure a single victory in this region. The Congress fielding Rajendra Bharti again this year from this high profile constituency.

In the last three elections, Rajendra Bharati from the Congress has contested directly against BJP’s Narottam Mishra, the Home Minister. However, with the latter defeating the former on each occasion. In 2008, Rajendra Bharati first contested against Dr. Narottam Mishra. At that time, he ran as a BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) candidate and received 23,256 votes, while Narottam Mishra secured a significant victory with 34,889 votes.

In 2013, Dr. Narottam Mishra won again, receiving 57,438 votes, while Rajendra Bharati received 45,357 votes. In the 2018 election, Bharati faced defeat at the hands of Mishra yet again losing by a margin of a mere 2,600 votes.

Caste Dynamics and Voter Demographics

As per the information made available by the Election Commission of India, Datia Vidhan Sabha constituency has a total voter base of 3,56,65. Female voters comprise 1,67,692 while the number of male voters is 1,88,959. The literacy rate of the Datia district stands at 73.50%.

Datia is a constituency of significance for both the Kushwaha and Brahmin communities. There are approximately 30,000 Brahmin voters, and approximately 30,000 to 35,000 voters belong to the Kushwaha community- a faceoff political parties tread lightly. Dr. Narottam Mishra, the incumbent BJP leader, has been able to garner substantial support from the Brahmin community over the years, a significant voter base in the constituency.

We'd again see face off between Rajendra Bharti, and Narottam Mishra. It is important to note that Congress initially gave ticket to Avdhesh Nayak, and then changed the it Rajendra Bharti in a recent list. Avdhesh Nayak has previously contested on a BJP ticket in 2003, though without success. Thereafter, running as a Bharatiya Jan Shakti Party candidate in 2008, he returned to the BJP during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

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