A fresh controversy has erupted in Madhya Pradesh Congress after State president Jitu Patwari remarked that when he was appointed to lead the party’s State unit, the entire organisation was ‘depressed’. The comment, casually made in a video he shared after a morning workout, is being widely interpreted as a direct swipe at his predecessor and former chief minister Kamal Nath.
Kamal Nath had assumed charge as State Congress president in May 2018, just ahead of the Assembly elections. Under his leadership, the party returned to power, though his Government collapsed in March 2020 following Jyotiraditya Scindia’s rebellion. Nath held the post through turbulent years until April 2024, when the Congress high command replaced him with Patwari as part of an organisational overhaul.
However, Patwari’s tenure has not delivered the revival many had hoped for. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress, under his leadership, faced a humiliating wipeout, losing all 29 parliamentary constituencies in Madhya Pradesh. The setback further deepened concerns about the party’s ability to pose a serious challenge to the BJP, which remains firmly entrenched in the State.
Although Patwari later tried to soften his tone by emphasising positive thinking and a ‘healthy lifestyle’ message for party colleagues and supporters, his choice of words about inheriting a depressed organisation has not gone unnoticed. Political observers say the remark was uncalled for at a time when the Congress needs cohesion rather than internal digs.
Kamal Nath still commands influence among senior leaders and grassroots workers and Patwari’s statement is seen by many as aggravating factional fault lines. The BJP, meanwhile, has seized on the episode to question the Congress’s credibility as a united force.
Factionalism has long plagued the Madhya Pradesh Congress, with rival camps aligned to Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh and now Patwari often working at cross-purposes. While Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra had temporarily lifted the morale of party workers earlier this year, the latest controversy underscores how fragile unity within the organisation remains.
With the 2028 Assembly elections and several bypolls on the horizon, the Congress faces the pressing challenge of healing divisions and presenting a coherent strategy.
For now, the Madhya Pradesh Congress remains mired in its struggle between old-guard sensitivities and the ambitions of younger leaders — an internal battle that continues to shape its uncertain political future.
