Congress Veteran Digvijaya Singh Labels BJP Minister Narottam Mishra ‘Ravana’ Ahead of Hotly‑Contested Datia By‑Election

Just days before voters head to the polls in Datia, the political atmosphere in Madhya Pradesh has turned decidedly theatrical. Digvijaya Singh, the former chief minister and a stalwart of the Indian National Congress, took to the microphone – and perhaps a bit of mythology – to brand the state’s BJP minister, Narottam Mishra, as ‘Ravana’. The comparison, he said, was not meant as a casual insult but as a warning about the kind of leadership Mishra represents.

“We cannot allow a Ravana to rule over our people,” Singh declared, his voice carrying the familiar mix of gravitas and impassioned urgency that has marked his speeches for decades. “When you have a leader who governs through fear, intimidation and, frankly, a sense of entitlement, the nation suffers.” The analogy, drawn from the ancient epic Ramayana, resonated with a crowd that knows both the story and the local political stakes.

For context, the Datia constituency became a by‑poll battleground after the tragic death of BJP MP Keshar Singh. Both the ruling party and the opposition see the seat as a litmus test: a win for the BJP would reaffirm Narendra Modi’s broader strategy in the heartland, while a Congress triumph could signal a resurgence of the party in a region it once dominated. The stakes are therefore not merely local; they echo in the corridors of New Delhi.

Meanwhile, Mishra – who serves as Madhya Pradesh’s cabinet minister for public works and urban development – has not remained silent. In a crisp rebuttal issued later that evening, he labeled Singh’s remarks as “political theatrics” and warned that such invectives would only “fuel further division”. Mishra’s team also pointed out his own track record, highlighting infrastructural projects and welfare schemes delivered in the last two years.

The exchange has quickly become fodder for social media memes, with countless users posting cartoonish renditions of the two leaders battling on a digital battlefield. Yet beneath the humor lies a genuine concern among analysts: will these high‑octane accusations sway the undecided voter, or will they merely add noise to an already crowded campaign?

What is clear, however, is that the Datia by‑poll is shaping up to be more than a simple contest of numbers. It is a clash of narratives – a story of a veteran congressman invoking mythic symbolism to paint his opponent as an archetype of tyranny, and a minister defending his record while warning against incendiary rhetoric. As the election day draws nearer, Madhya Pradesh residents will watch closely to see whether myth or reality carries more weight at the ballot box.