Factional fight in MP Congress gets ugly: Scindia shown black flags, targeted

Correspondent

NewsBits.in

BHOPAL/GWALIOR: Congress member of parliament (MP) Jyotiraditya Scindia was shown black flags by Congress workers in Madhya Pradesh.

The slogans against Scindia were also raised publicly. This incident occurred in Morena, the district adjoining Gwalior. 

It was a major embarrassment not just for Scindia but also the party. Further, veteran Congress leader and MLA Dr Govind Singh also took a dig at Scindia, showing that how faction-ridden Congress is in Madhya Pradesh.

Govind Singh is a Digvijaya Singh supporter. Insiders say that it is a result of the tussle between the two major factions of the party. One of the groups wants to show its strength in Gwalior-Chambal region too. 

This is the region of Scindia's influence, as his ancestors ruled the princely state of Gwalior. Later, talking to media persons, Scindia tried to brush aside questions about the incident and said that he didn't see black flags.  

But the fact remains that Congress workers indeed showed black flags to him and raised slogans against him. There are photographs and videos capturing the entire incident. 

When Scindia reached Ambah town in Morena, the Youth Congress workers gathered around his car. Many of them yelled, 'Jyotiraditya Scindia haai, haai' and waved black flags. 

Initially, it was said that Youth Congress workers were upset as he didn't step out of the car. Also, supporters of Madhuraj Singh Tomar, a local leader, were present. He had resigned from his post a day ago, as he alleged that the local leaders were ignored. 

But senior party leader Govind Singh took a dig at Scindia, saying that 'party workers couldn't identify the leader (Scindia) who is the Raja of the region (Gwalior princely state)...'.

Regarding journalists' query that was it proper to raise black flags when Scindia was a senior leader who could be projected as CM candidate, Govind Singh said that no one is CM candidate.

"In Congress, it is the tradition to elect the CM after polls and it is the legislators' group that decides it", he said. After the statement, several Congress leaders and legislators criticised Dr Govind Singh's comment.

Also, action is being taken against the party workers who raised slogans against Scindia and showed him black flags. Clearly, Congress, despite being out of power for over 12 years, remains faction-ridden and shows no signs of unity ahead of the next polls.