The Congress party in Madhya Pradesh, which faced a crushing defeat in the 2023 assembly elections and hit rock bottom in the subsequent Lok Sabha elections, is now showing signs of revival. This resurgence is largely attributed to the efforts of Jitendra Patwari, who took over as the state party president about a year ago.
Under Patwari’s leadership, the Congress registered an impressive victory in the assembly bypolls in Vijaypur in November and put up an unexpected fight in Budhni, the home turf of senior BJP leader and former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Despite initial discontent among certain leaders, Rahul Gandhi firmly backed Patwari, sending a strong message that everyone must align with the new president’s methods.
A senior Congress leader emphasized the significance of the victory in Vijaypur, stating, “It has provided us a guiding example for upcoming challenges and will act as a unifying force for the new organizational framework.”
*Challenges and Factionalism*
Factionalism has long plagued the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, contributing to its repeated failures in assembly elections. The party came to power in 2018 under Kamal Nath, but his government collapsed in 2020 after Jyotiraditya Scindia and his loyalists left the party. When Patwari took charge in December 2023, the Congress was deeply divided between the factions led by Kamal Nath and former chief minister Digvijaya Singh. Their loyalists occupied key positions and often disregarded the central leadership.
However, the high command struck back after the Lok Sabha elections debacle, sidelining both leaders and appointing Patwari, further diminishing their influence. Patwari’s appointment was met with resistance from some leaders, who complained to the high command about his approach. Nevertheless, Rahul Gandhi’s unwavering support for Patwari sent a clear message that everyone must align with the new president’s methods.
*Patwari’s Strategy and Efforts*
Patwari faces resistance from leaders such as Umang Singhar, Congress Working Committee member Kamleshwar Patel, and former minister Arun Yadav. Despite the power struggle, political analysts believe that none of these leaders commands enough influence to disrupt the party’s functioning. Patwari, who has been in politics for around two decades, is known for his organizational skills and hard work.
“He has already visited more than 200 assembly constituencies,” said Congress spokesperson Mithun Singh Ahirwar. “Every second day he is on the road and meeting workers.”
Patwari has identified three key reasons for the Congress’s repeated electoral losses:
1. *Lack of consistent ground presence*: The party often starts election work just six months before the elections.
2. *Ineffective ideological discourse*: The party has failed to manage ideological outreach at the grassroots level.
3. *Weak organizational structure*: The party needs to strengthen its structure by clearly defining responsibilities and ensuring accountability through proper monitoring.
The state Congress has begun working on making its feedback system more effective. Leaders are required to submit bimonthly performance reports to the state in-charge, which will then be reviewed by the state unit president. The party is also working on strengthening its structure at the panchayat level and organizing it through mohalla committees. A comprehensive revamp of all frontal organizations is also underway.
*Future Prospects*
Patwari’s efforts are gradually improving his acceptability among all factions within the state unit. With the Congress’s central leadership focusing on Dalit voters, the state unit plans to amplify its Dalit outreach. Dalits constitute around 16% of the state’s population. The party is also addressing issues concerning tribals, who make up 21% of the population, with the objective of building political momentum in different collective groups by mobilizing public opinion.
A significant test for Patwari, who is popular among young voters due to his earlier stint as state president of the Youth Congress, will be the Rajya Sabha elections next year. The Congress is vulnerable to cross-voting, as many senior leaders are eyeing the Rajya Sabha seat that will be vacated by Digvijaya Singh. Patwari will need to tackle this challenge and demonstrate his control over the party.
Stay tuned for further updates on Jitendra Patwari and the Congress’s revival in Madhya Pradesh.
