The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken major organisational action following its defeat in the Datia Assembly by-election, dissolving the party’s entire district unit with immediate effect.
District president Raghuveer Singh Kushwaha and the entire district executive have been relieved of their positions. The party has also dissolved all mandal committees, frontal organisations, cells, projects and departmental units in the district.
The action was taken on the recommendations of a special committee constituted to review the by-election results, following directions from BJP state president and MLA Hemant Khandelwal.
BJP begins major organisational restructuring
According to the party’s order, the dissolution is not limited to the district executive. District office-bearers, the district working committee, all mandal committees, morchas, cells, projects and departments have also been dissolved.
The party is now preparing to rebuild its organisational structure in Datia from scratch.
The BJP lost the Datia Assembly by-election by 6,016 votes. A review meeting was held on Tuesday at Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav’s residence in Bhopal.
State president Hemant Khandelwal, the election in-charge, ministers and senior party leaders attended the meeting, where the reasons for the defeat, the organisation’s role, allegations of internal sabotage and the party’s future strategy were discussed.
Senior leaders review reasons behind defeat
The meeting was attended by Datia by-election in-charge Bharat Singh Kushwah, state general secretary Rahul Kothari, Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda, ministers Rao Uday Pratap Singh and Rakesh Shukla, along with around two dozen other leaders.
Allegations of internal sabotage under focus
According to party sources, an internal report has raised allegations of sabotage against some councillors in urban Datia.
The BJP had expected a stronger performance in the city, but the Congress gained an advantage there, while the BJP performed better in rural areas.
Based on the report, the party is expected to decide on disciplinary action against those found responsible.
Yashodhara Raje, Umita Singh had also raised questions
After the defeat, former minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia posted on X, “Time for introspection,” while referring to the Datia and Bankipur by-elections.
Tikamgarh Zila Panchayat president Umita Rahul Singh also questioned the party’s functioning in a Facebook post, saying that results go against the party when officials, rather than workers, begin claiming to have direct access to senior leadership.
Narottam Mishra campaigned, but BJP still lost
Former Home Minister Dr Narottam Mishra campaigned in support of BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari despite not receiving the party ticket himself.
However, within the party, there is an assessment that the organisation’s full support may not have been mobilised on the ground after the candidate was changed.
Viral social media posts to be reviewed
Party sources said allegedly misleading posts and fake letters that went viral during the election campaign will also be examined.
The party is preparing a list of people who shared such posts and will also examine their political affiliations and links.
CM says people’s mandate is supreme
Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said the people’s decision is supreme in a democracy and that the BJP respects the mandate.
He said the party has performed well in recent elections and will reach out to the people with greater strength in the future.
