News Brief
Madhya Pradesh Congress Faces Turmoil After District Presidents List Sparks Dissent
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari
The Madhya Pradesh Congress is grappling with mounting unrest after unveiling its long-awaited list of 71 district presidents on Saturday (16 August).
According to a NDTV report, what was intended as an organisational overhaul has instead fuelled discontent, protests and resignations across key districts, including Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain and Burhanpur.
The most significant flashpoint has emerged in Raghogarh, where supporters of former minister Jaivardhan Singh, son of ex-chief minister Digvijay Singh staged late-night demonstrations.
Singh’s appointment as Guna district president has been perceived by his backers as a political demotion.
In protest, they burnt an effigy of state Congress chief Jitu Patwari and accused the leadership of diminishing Singh’s stature.
In the state capital, the reappointment of Praveen Saxena as Bhopal district president has also stirred resentment.
Former district president Monu Saxena, who was among the contenders, took to social media to criticise the move, claiming it ran counter to Rahul Gandhi’s call for rebuilding the party organisation with fresh leadership.
Indore has seen similar backlash. The elevation of Chintu Chouksey as city president and Vipin Wankhede as district president has triggered opposition, with former women’s wing chief Sakshi Shukla Daga expressing her anger online.
The discontent has already turned into resignations. Hemant Patil, district spokesperson and president of the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Cell, resigned in protest.
In Burhanpur, supporters of senior leader Arun Yadav reportedly convened privately after being denied representation.
According to the list, 21 district presidents have retained their posts.
Of the 71, 37 come from reserved categories, while six MLAs, eight former MLAs and three ex-ministers have been handed positions.
At least ten loyalists of former chief minister Kamal Nath secured places.
Instead of restoring unity, the reshuffle has deepened divides, leaving the Congress in Madhya Pradesh navigating fresh turbulence.
