On June 3, Rahul Gandhi, the former Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, spent five pivotal hours in Bhopal, the heart of Madhya Pradesh. He participated in five significant events, launching the 'Organizational Creation Campaign,' where he firmly advised leaders to end factionalism, unite, and construct a more robust organizational framework. Rahul Gandhi assured that decisions wouldn't be imposed from above but should stem from collective agreement, with changes made as necessary.
He also emphasized identifying those aiding the BJP and ensuring the right person is positioned correctly within the organization. He elaborated on the need to distinguish between horses for races, weddings, and limping horses. Moreover, Rahul Gandhi underscored the importance of strengthening the organization for elections, advocating for district Congress committees to play a crucial role in candidate selection, responsibility, and accountability for Lok Sabha, assembly, and municipal polls.
Ground Reality of Congress in Madhya Pradesh
Discussing Madhya Pradesh, Congress seems to be in a fragile state. After triumphing in the 2018 assembly polls, the party formed a government under Kamal Nath for the first time in 15 years but lasted only 15 months before a rebellion led to its downfall. Entering the 2023 elections with optimism, Congress managed to secure only 66 out of 230 seats, despite a 41% vote share.
In 2018, Congress garnered a 41.5% vote share with 114 seats but faced minor vote share losses, leading to a 48-seat reduction. The Lok Sabha election results were even more disappointing in 2024, as Congress couldn't secure a single seat despite obtaining 32.9% of the votes.
Factional Dominance within the Organization
Factionalism has majorly plagued the Madhya Pradesh Congress. From Kamal Nath, Digvijay Singh, Suresh Pachouri to Ajay Singh 'Rahul', the party has fragmented into numerous factions. Post the electoral setback, despite leadership changes, the aftermath remained the same. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Congress lost its sole seat, Chhindwara. Veterans like Ajay Singh and Govind Singh refrained from contesting.
Prior to Rahul Gandhi’s Bhopal visit, former minister PC Sharma noted the existence of sleeper cells within Congress feeding information to the BJP. Rahul Gandhi's visit became vital for pinpointing these elements damaging the party internally.
The Leadership Conundrum
In seven years, Madhya Pradesh Congress has witnessed six different in-charges, tracing most issues to factionalism. Such turnover prevents any leader from understanding the political landscape thoroughly before replacement. Since 2018, the position is currently held by Harish Chaudhary, after several predecessors. Chaudhary was instated after factionalism visibly emerged during a rally, though he is known for his proximity to the Gandhi family.
Locally, the leadership challenges persist. Kamal Nath seems less active; Jyotiraditya Scindia has joined BJP, and Jeetu Patwari lacks the necessary support within the party, turning local leadership into a persistent struggle.
