Madhya Pradesh: Mohan Yadav fights dissent within as BJP MLAs criticise own govt

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. File Photo: PTI)

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav finds himself in a unique predicament with members of his own party criticizing the BJP-led state government. At least three MLAs have publicly criticized the state administration, raking up local issues and hinting at escalating tensions between the party and its own government.

The three MLAs who have spoken out against the state government include Pichhore legislator Preetam Lodhi, Sohagpur's Vijaypal Singh and Pradeep Patel, the MLA from Maujganj.

The protests come amid significant churn within the BJP ahead of the elections to pick a new party president for the state. In the bypolls held six months ago in November 2024, the BJP managed to retain Budhni but lost Vijaypur to the Congress party.

Troubles mounted on Saturday when Lodhi, who has emerged as a vocal critic of the state government, targeted a minister at a public meeting in Shivpuri. "A lazy minister has come, and due to his arrival, the lights of Congressmen have been turned on. If the work of our workers and the public is not done, I will get their tap connections and roads cut," The Indian Express quoted Lodhi as saying.

Lodhi has also highlighted that several meetings with CM Yadav have yielded no results over his demand for Pichhore to be declared a separate district, a promise that he claims former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had made.

The BJP faced another embarrassment in Narmadapuram as Vijaypal Singh blocked traffic for several hours on April 24 to demand the construction of an approach road to link rural areas to the newly built Betul Marg from Obaidullaganj,an ssue that has fueled local discontent.

Then on April 25, tensions between the police and Padeep Patel played out in Maujganj where the local MLA courted arrest and claimed that he faced a threat from the police. Patel also held a six-hour protest over his long-standing tensions with the police. Patel and the police have had run-ins over sensitive communal issues, with the MLA alleging that the police did not take action in one such case.

"I do not know why the police wanted to file a case against me. I have spoken to the CM on the issue. Hopefully, the message has been delivered to the police," Patel said.

In an apparent bid to placate the BJP leaders, the state police issued a directive on April 24, mandating its personnel in uniform to salute MPs and MLAs at government functions and general meetings. The Congress termed the move "an insult to the police uniform". However, CM Yadav defended it as a "tradition and rule" to give due respect to public representatives.

BJP insiders revel that the dissent within the BJP is not limited to MLAs and has trickled down to the local and municipal corporation levels as well.

“Many office-bearers in municipal corporations have also been at the receiving end of the ire of local party leaders. In Sagar, the Mayor formed the Council without informing the state leadership, for which the party has issued a notice to him. The Dewas Mayor also did not take permission from the party for implementing changes in the Mayor-in-Council and has also fought with the local MP. In Bina, the Nagar Palika Chairperson’s negligence in appointment has led to a section of BJP leaders becoming upset,” the leader said.

Meanwhile, VD Sharma, the BJP state president, said there was no room for indiscipline within the party and said that discussions continue on all pressing issues.