Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh—traditionally one of the BJP’s prime political targets—is receiving unexpected praise from his political adversaries. The shift culminated in BJP MLA Pritam Lodhi publicly inviting Singh to join the party, promising he would be treated “like royalty.”
The dramatic reversal stems from an embarrassing bout of internal friction within the Madhya Pradesh Congress, triggered by Singh himself:
The Fact-Check That Altered the Narrative
- The Allegation: State Congress chief Jitu Patwari publicly accused current Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav of corruption, alleging that government land worth nearly ₹500 crore in Ujjain had been handed over to the Veer Bharat Nyas trust for just ₹1.
- The Contradiction: Addressing reporters just days later, Digvijaya Singh publicly challenged his own party’s claim. Singh asserted that he had reviewed the official documents and clarified that the land was given to a government trust, not a private entity. He added a comment that there is “no shortage of dalals (brokers)” making false claims, which many inside the party perceived as an internal swipe.
BJP’s Strategic Response
The BJP capitalized on the public disagreement. Party spokespeople and leaders praised Singh for his “fact-based” approach and research-driven statements.
Beyond general praise, BJP leaders utilized the event strategically to portray the opposition’s campaign as built on falsehoods and to expose deep-seated fractures within the state’s Congress leadership.
Congress Scrambles to Control Damage
Sections of the Congress reacted with fury. Congress general secretary Nidhi Chaturvedi accused Singh of undermining party discipline, while former state chief Arun Yadav reportedly reached out to Rahul Gandhi for high-level intervention.
To present a united front, Digvijaya Singh and Jitu Patwari subsequently issued a joint statement asserting solidarity. Singh clarified that Patwari is “like a son” to him and that his “dalal” remark was aimed at a journalist rather than a colleague, attempting to quiet speculation of an ongoing rift.