New Delhi: Jyotiraditya Scindia’s exit from the Congress Tuesday after 18 long years, along with 21 MLAs, has left the Madhya Pradesh government in the throes of crises.
The decision has left most party leaders fuming.
On the top of the list of leaders furious with Scindia is Digvijaya Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP and former Congress general secretary who has been relentlessly tweeting and retweeting posts, criticising the former Guna MP.
It was Singh who had told told Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath to reach out to Scindia, indicating he had expected the move.
Singh, however, clarified in a tweet Wednesday that the erstwhile Gwalior royal hadn’t been sidelined.
“In fact, please ask any Congress Leader from MP particularly from Gwalior Chambal Division and you would come to know nothing moved in this area without his consent in last 16 months. Sad. But I wish him well under ModiShah Tutelage,” he wrote in response to an NDTV report.
No question he was not at all sidelined. In fact, please ask any Congress Leader from MP particularly from Gwalior Chambal Division and you would come to know nothing moved in this area without his consent in last 16 months. Sad. But I wish him well under ModiShah Tutelage! https://t.co/ChEycCkrRc
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) March 11, 2020
The senior Congress leader continued his tirade with a reference to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.
“Also the revolver by which Godse killed Mahatma Gandhi was given to him by one Parchure from Gwalior. Need to do some more research about who was Parchure,” he tweeted, referring to Dr D.S. Parchure, the then head of Hindu Raj Sena in Gwalior.
Also the revolver by which Godse killed Mahatma Gandhi was given to him by one Parchure from Gwalior. Need to do some more research about who was Parchure.
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) March 11, 2020
Singh further said the Congress needs “to purge all those who are closer to Sangh Ideology than the Gandhi Nehruvian ideology”.
A big Hug to you Saket. What Congress needs today is to purge all those who are closer to Sangh Ideology than the Gandhi Nehruvian Ideology. Pt Nehru all his life fought these people. But then RSS great strategy and capacity to don different मुखौटा is unmatched!! https://t.co/j59vD2skIZ
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) March 11, 2020
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, however, didn’t launch a full-fledged attack on Scindia and instead targetted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “destabilising” the government in Madhya Pradesh.
Hey @PMOIndia , while you were busy destabilising an elected Congress Govt, you may have missed noticing the 35% crash in global oil prices. Could you please pass on the benefit to Indians by slashing #petrol prices to under 60₹ per litre? Will help boost the stalled economy.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 11, 2020
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot did not mince any words in slamming Scindia.
In a thread of two tweets, in which he also castigated the BJP, the senior Congress leader said, “Joining hands with BJP in a time of national crisis speaks volumes about a leaders self-indulgent political ambitions.”
Joining hands with BJP in a time of national crisis speaks volumes about a leaders self-indulgent political ambitions. Especially when the BJP ruining the economy, democratic institutions, social fabric and as well the Judiciary.
1/2— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) March 10, 2020
Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot too commented on the MP “crisis” but refrained from making a remark on Scindia.
In his tweet, Pilot wrote, “I am hopeful that the current crisis in MP ends soon and that leaders are able to resolve differences. The state needs a stable government in order to fulfill the promises make to the electrolate.”
I am hopeful that the current crisis in MP ends soon and that leaders are able to resolve differences. The state needs a stable government in order to fulfill the promises make to the electrolate.
— Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) March 9, 2020
Not mentioning Scindia in his tweet, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said people who leave Congress “roaring” usually return with their “tail between the legs”.
कांग्रेस से जाने वाले लोग हमेशा हमने देखा है कि वो गुर्राते हुए जाते हैं और दुम दबाकर आते हैं और ऐसे अनेक उदाहरण हैं। pic.twitter.com/B2A6xN8dkL
— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) March 11, 2020
Also read: What is Rahu kaal? The likely reason why Scindia delayed his joining BJP by several hours
Scindia’s resignation a ‘true freedom’ for party workers
Shobha Oza, Congress spokesperson in Madhya Pradesh, didn’t mince her words and called Scindia’s resignation a “true freedom” for Congress workers in the Gwalior-Chambal region.
“Today is the ‘Festival of Liberation’ for all Congressmen in the region whose rights were being sacrificed so far under the personal interests of the ‘palace’ and their sycophants,” she said.
ग्वालियर-चंबल संभाग के सभी कांग्रेस कार्यकर्ताओं को आज मिली "सच्ची आजादी" की बहुत-बहुत बधाई। आज अंचल के उन सभी कांग्रेसजनों के लिए "मुक्ति का पर्व" है, जिनके अधिकारों को अब तक "महल" और उसके चाटुकारों के निजी स्वार्थों की बलि चढ़ाया जा रहा था।
— Shobha Oza (@Shobha_Oza) March 10, 2020
Former Madhya Pradesh Congress president Arun Yadav, meanwhile, harked back to the days when the royal family of Gwalior had supported the British.
“I have no regrets about the character assumed by Jyotiraditya Scindia. The Scindia dynasty had helped the British during the freedom struggle by standing with them and supported the ideology of those who were with the British. Today, by supporting the same people, Jyotiraditya Scindia has given salute to his ancestors,” he tweeted in Hindi.
ज्योतिरादित्य सिंधिया द्वारा अपनाए गए चरित्र को लेकर मुझे ज़रा भी अफसोस नहीं है ।
सिंधिया खानदान ने स्वतंत्रता संग्राम के दौरान भी जिस अंग्रेज हुकूमत और उनका साथ देने वाली विचारधारा की पंक्ति में खड़े होकर उनकी मदद की थी,— Arun Yadav ?? (@MPArunYadav) March 10, 2020
Some support for Scindia
Kuldeep Bishnoi, a prominent Congress leader in Haryana and the son of former chief minister Bhajan Lal, voiced his resentment with the party.
Soon after Scindia’s resignation, he said, “@JM_Scindia’s departure is a big blow to @INCIndia. He was a central pillar in the party & the leadership should’ve done more to convince him to stay. Like him, there are many other devoted INC leaders across the country who feel alienated, wasted & discontented.”
.@JM_Scindia’s departure is a big blow to @INCIndia. He was a central pillar in the party & the leadership should’ve done more to convince him to stay. Like him, there are many other devoted INC leaders across the country who feel alienated, wasted & discontented. 1/2 https://t.co/oTLXuqTAui
— Kuldeep Bishnoi (@bishnoikuldeep) March 10, 2020
“India’s oldest party needs to empower young leaders who have the capacity to work hard & resonate with the masses,” he added in a subsequent post.
2/2 India’s oldest party needs to empower young leaders who have the capacity to work hard & resonate with the masses.
— Kuldeep Bishnoi (@bishnoikuldeep) March 10, 2020
A report in ThePrint Tuesday said Bishnoi might be looking to get his wife Renuka or his son Bhavya nominated to the Rajya Sabha from Haryana, election for which is scheduled later this month.
Scindia’s last trigger to leave the Congress is said to have been the party’s prevarication to sideline him over his nomination to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh.
Also read: How Congress is desperately trying to save CM Kamal Nath’s govt in Madhya Pradesh