Once again Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s statement stirred political turmoil within the party and gave reason to arch rival BJP to target the party. In a fresh attack from within the party, Congress State General Secretary Nidhi Chaturvedi hurled a post on social media levelling serious allegations on senior leader. Other leaders too are demanding disciplinary action against the Digvijay Singh. Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Vishwas Sarang commented on the Congress party’s internal infighting saying Congress factionalism has spilled out from party offices onto the streets. For years, Congress has misled the public by making baseless, false allegations. On the other side, Congress party office-bearer, Nidhi Chaturvedi wrote his attachment to his son is effectively providing a lifeline, or oxygen, to the BJP. Former Union Minister Arun Yadav has even urged Rahul Gandhi to intervene in the matter. Although Digvijay Singh is being seen alongside State Congress President Jitu Patwari in an attempt to give clarification but political attacks continue to grab the senior leader’s statement counters State chief Jitu Patwari’s remark on ‘Veer Bharat Nyas’ (trust). With this, a major row has erupted within the Congress party and BJP is leaving no chance to give hype to the issue. The controversy began when State Congress President Jitu Patwari had accused the State Government of transferring land worth Rs 500 crore in Ujjain to the ‘Veer Bharat Nyas’ (trust) for a mere one rupee. Following this allegation, Digvijaya Singh visited Ujjain.

 

Speaking to the media there, he stated that there was nothing wrong with the transaction, noting that the land had been given to a Government trust. He remarked that ‘broker-like’ individuals often level such allegations in exchange for money. Digvijaya Singh’s statement was interpreted as a dig at Jitu Patwari. It was widely perceived that he was using the term ‘broker’ to refer to Patwari. Furthermore, his comments effectively undermined the allegations Patwari had raised. This statement put the Madhya Pradesh Congress on the back foot and brought the rift between Patwari and Singh out into the open. Amidst reports of a rift with Jitu Patwari, Digvijaya Singh appeared before the media alongside him. He stated that a misconception was being spread regarding a conflict between himself and Patwari. “He is like a son to me,” Singh said, adding that he has been with the Congress party for over 50 years. “I would not use the word ‘broker’ against the State Congress President or indeed any other party leader. The Congress party stands united. I have come here to clear up this misunderstanding.” Despite Digvijaya Singh’s clarification, the turmoil within the Congress party is not going to be quelled. On Wednesday, Cabinet Minister Vishwas Sarang remarked on the Congress party’s internal discord, stating that Congress leaders labelling former Chief Minister and senior leader Digvijaya Singh a ‘sleeper cell’ serves as direct evidence of the party’s internal strife. Factionalism within the Congress has now moved beyond party offices and is visible on the streets.

 

Even senior Congress leaders have begun speaking openly about the party’s internal infighting and factionalism. A Congress party divided into various factions and groups has no concern for public issues. The party seeks to remain in media headlines to conceal its internal discord and divert public attention. Congress leaders themselves are exposing the reality of their party. He said that whenever the Congress lacks substance to discuss issues of public interest, it resorts to false allegations and misinformation. The true nature of the Congress party and its leaders is being revealed through the statements made by their own members. The fact that Congress leaders themselves use terms like ‘sleeper cell’ for a senior leader like Digvijaya Singh proves the existence of deep mistrust, internal friction, and a severe leadership crisis within the party. When Congress leaders themselves level such serious allegations against one another, the party loses any moral right to question others. The battle for supremacy within the Congress party is now playing out on public platforms. Nidhi Chaturvedi wrote that while the truth and falsehoods surrounding the Ujjain land dispute and the ‘Veer Bharat Nyas’ matter, as well as who is right or wrong, may be subjects for investigation, there is one thing that completely baffles me and causes every true Congressman to hang their head in shame: What compelled a senior leader like Digvijaya Singh to publicly turn against his own state president, Jitu Patwari, and use abusive language?

 

Nidhi Chaturvedi further wrote that even if Jitu Patwari was in the wrong, then Digvijaya Singh, as a senior leader and mentor, could have addressed the issue by speaking to him face-to-face or over the phone. It can be said after facing humiliating defeat in Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections, it seems the grand old party has not taken any lesson.