A fresh war of words erupted between the BJP and the Congress in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday after Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav hit back at state Congress president Jitu Patwari over a recent remark made by the opposition leader.
Addressing a public gathering in Shujalpur, Yadav responded to Patwari’s reference to him as “Mohan Lal Abhinandan Yadav” and said, “If I am Abhinandan Lal, then you are Tapori Lal.”
The Chief Minister also criticised the Congress leadership, claiming the party was struggling to regain public support in the state. Referring to Patwari’s leadership, Yadav said he had never seen a state party president under whose tenure a Lok Sabha candidate withdrew from the election campaign. He also questioned the Congress leader’s electoral performance and said the party was facing the consequences of its political decisions.
Yadav made the remarks while inaugurating and laying the foundation stones for development projects worth around Rs 350 crore in Shujalpur. Earlier in the day, he attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat programme and held a roadshow in the town before addressing the public meeting.
“If I am Abhinandan Lal, then you are Tapori Lal.” — Chief Minister Mohan Yadav
Patwari later responded through a post on social media, accusing the Chief Minister of using insulting language against him. The Congress leader said the remarks reflected disrespect towards farmers and their families.
“Chief Minister, you called me worthless and used abusive language. Does that mean the son of a farmer is worthless in your eyes?” Patwari wrote. He also referred to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, stating that electoral defeat could not be the basis for judging a leader’s political standing.
Patwari further said he remained committed to the goal of forming a government free from corruption and commission-based politics in the 2028 Assembly election. He asserted that the people of Madhya Pradesh were closely watching the conduct of political leaders and would deliver their verdict at the appropriate time.
The exchange follows Patwari’s remarks at a youth interaction programme in Satna, where he referred to the Chief Minister as “Mohan Lal Abhinandan Yadav” and sought applause from the audience.
During his visit to Shujalpur, the Chief Minister also announced a series of development initiatives for the region. These included an engineering college in Shujalpur, a two-lane road connecting Shujalpur Police Chowki and Kalapipal via Bhilkhedi, a ring road linking Ashta Road and Pachore Road through Freeganj, and a college in Akodia.
He also announced a bypass road at Golana, the upgradation of local civic facilities, 80 residential units for police personnel and additional police deployment at Mandi police station. The Chief Minister said other pending demands from the region would be considered in the coming years.
Meanwhile, a minor law-and-order incident was reported during the programme when members of the crowd allegedly caught a suspected pickpocket near the event venue. The individual reportedly escaped before police could take him into custody.
The latest exchange between the Chief Minister and the Congress state president underlines the increasingly confrontational political atmosphere in Madhya Pradesh as both parties begin positioning themselves for the next Assembly election.
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