News Brief
Resignation, Protests And Social Media Outbursts: Madhya Pradesh BJP Faces Internal Dissent As MLAs Raise Concerns On Governance
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav
The Madhya Pradesh's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has found itself embroiled in internal conflict over the past few days, as several BJPs have taken their grievances public.
The unrest is marked by resignations, protests, and social media posts, with six key BJP MLAs, including three former ministers voicing their frustration and raising questions on the state’s governance and leadership.
On Thursday, Deori MLA Brij Bihari Pateria made headlines by sending his resignation to the Speaker of the Assembly, citing the police's refusal to register an FIR in a snake bite case as the reason.
"When the police aren't even listening to an MLA, what is the point of me being one?" he said.
However, within hours, Pateria withdrew his resignation, calling it a moment of "temporary outrage."
"It was a temporary moment of anger, everything is resolved now," he said.
A day earlier on Wednesday, Mauganj MLA Pradeep Patel made a public display of discontent by visiting the Superintendent of Police’s office, accusing the police of protecting the liquor mafia.
Patel’s provocative statement that the police should have him killed by goons sparked controversy within the BJP.
Patan MLA Ajay Vishnoi, a former minister, expressed solidarity with Patel on social media, posting, "Pradeep ji, you have raised the right issue, but what can we do? The entire government is bowing down before liquor contractors".
Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Nariyawali also took action against the illegal sale of liquor and gambling in his constituency.
Further compounding the BJP’s internal strife, former minister and BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak expressed concerns over his personal safety, alleging that his Aadhaar card had been tampered with and that suspicious individuals had been spotted near his residences in Jabalpur, Katni, and Bhopal.
"I feel my life is in danger. This is not just about Aadhaar tampering-it's a deep conspiracy," said Pathak.
Gadhakota MLA and former minister Gopal Bhargava added to the chorus of dissent through a social media post, questioning the moral grounds for celebrating the symbolic burning of Ravana during the festival.
"Incidents of rape are happening frequently, leaving society ashamed. In such circumstances, can we claim to be worthy of burning Ravana? These recurring heinous crimes continue to tarnish our conscience, and we are failing to provide a safe environment for our sisters and daughters," he said.
The BJP has attempted to downplay the discontent, characterising it as routine internal discussions, but the opposition Congress has labelled it as an internal fight within the ruling party.
State BJP President VD Sharma said, "In any family, discussions happen among members. BJP operates with discipline, and everything is under control. Pateria Ji clarified in one minute that all is well."
Senior Congress leader Mukesh Nayak, however, said, "Earlier, when we raised these issues, VD Sharma would accuse us of defaming the BJP. Now, a dozen of their MLAs are raising the same concerns. What will they say now?"
This internal discord surfaces at a time when the BJP in Madhya Pradesh is already grappling with several public disputes among its leaders.
From allegations of breaching protocols at events to accusations of shielding criminals, the party's internal challenges are becoming more visible, raising concerns about its leadership in the state.
