Patwari made the remark during an informal interaction with party workers in Indore while reviewing organisational matters. Though he did not elaborate, his statement was widely interpreted as an expression of frustration over being sidelined after the Congress’s defeat in the 2023 Assembly elections.
The BJP was quick to seize on the comment. BJP Indore city president Sumit Mishra said Congress leaders tend to describe their situation as “exile” whenever they are out of power. “After becoming PCC president, Patwari may have expected the benefits that come with power. When those expectations were not met, it began to feel like exile,” Mishra said, mocking the opposition.
Mishra also alleged that Patwari had marginalised senior Congress leaders, including Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh, pushing them into political irrelevance. He claimed several senior Congress figures, unhappy with the present leadership, were quietly working in favour of the BJP. “When Congress is forced to connect with people on the ground, it feels like exile to them,” he added.
The controversy gained further traction amid internal discord within the Congress over a recent social media post by veteran leader Digvijaya Singh, who praised the organisational strength of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP. Singh shared an old photograph showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi sitting on the floor near senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, describing it as an example of strong organisational culture.
The post drew criticism from within the Congress. Nidhi Chaturvedi, daughter of former Rajya Sabha MP Satyavrat Chaturvedi, publicly demanded disciplinary action against Digvijaya Singh, accusing him of weakening the party’s ideological fight and demoralising grassroots workers.
Adding to the political crossfire, senior BJP leader and Urban Administration Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya defended Digvijaya Singh. In a post on X, Vijayvargiya said that ideological differences are natural in a democracy and praised Singh for having the courage to acknowledge the organisational strength of the RSS. He said such candour reflected the democratic tradition of leaders who dared to speak uncomfortable truths.
The episode has intensified political sparring in the state, highlighting both the BJP’s aggressive counter-offensive and the Congress’s ongoing struggle to maintain unity and direction while out of power.
.jpg)
