Ahead of assembly polls, a BJP MLA in the crucial Gwalior-Chambal region has resigned, alleging massive corruption by ministers who are supporters of union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and work not being done in his constituency due to such ministers.
The MLA, Virendra Raghuvanshi of Kolaras, has said in his resignation letter that many party workers like him were being ignored by ‘new entrant BJP leaders’ (indicating the Congress MLAs who joined the party with Scindia in March 2020). Raghuvanshi also said that no heed was paid despite putting up his grievances before the chief minister (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) and the top leadership of the party during the past 3.5 years.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am resigning from the primary membership of the party and as special invitee to the state executive,” Raghuvanshi said in his resignation letter sent to the state BJP president V.D. Sharma.
The MLA also attacked Scindia personally in the resignation letter, saying ‘Scindia ji had felled the Congress government saying that Rs 2 lakh loan of farmers was not waived off. But after the formation of the BJP government, Scindia ji never spoke about farm loan waiver, let alone get the loan waived.”
The MLA also held a press conference at his residence in Shivpuri to announce his resignation, wherein he accused Scindia supporters, ministers Mahendra Singh Sisodia and Pradhuman Singh Tomar of rampant corruption.
Raghuvanshi said that corruption was ruling the roost since the BJP government was formed due to the support of Scindia. Ministers who came with Scindia were involved in massive corruption and because of this, the work of common people was not being done. Many works in his constituency, Kolaras could not be completed due to these ministers.
“I am resigning due to harassment of the Mahal (as Scindia’s influence circle is known as),” Raghuvanshi said, adding that he was being harassed as he had worked in support of K.P. Singh Yadav in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and therefore Scindia held a grudge against him. Yadav had defeated Scindia (then in Congress) from Guna by over 1.20 lakh votes.
The MLA also said that CM Chouhan was under pressure from the Congress MLAs joining BJP. He said that several times, he had mentioned to the CM that work in his constituency was not being done due to Sisodia and he was being deliberately harassed. “I had requested the CM to get a face-to-face meeting with the minister so that I could present my side, but I was not heard,” Raghuvanshi said.
He also alleged that during the recent visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Gwalior, pressure was created to bring a crowd of panchayat secretaries for the event and Sisodia had openly said in a related meeting that panchayat secretaries and sarpanchs would have to be paid ‘neg’ (word used for bribe money). Despite such open talk of corruption, no action was taken against the minister.
The MLA also mentioned this issue of ‘neg’ in his resignation letter. In the letter, he also mentioned that the farmers’ deposits in district cooperative banks were not available to them for withdrawal as the amount had been already withdrawn by fraud under a scam. No action has been taken in this matter despite him (Raghuvanshi) taking up this matter in the state assembly. He also mentioned that cows were dying on roads in the state because of a lack of budget for the cow shelters.
Might fight against Yashodhara Raje from Congress
Though Raghuvanshi said that he wasn’t joining any party following his resignation and would take a decision only after detailed consultation with his supporters, sources said that he might shift to Congress and be pitted against the minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia from Shivpuri constituency. Yashodhara Raje is said to be facing opposition in her constituency and the Congress wants to make the best of the situation.
The Congress has taken a jab at the resignation. Media department chairman shared Raghuvanshi’s resignation letter on social media platform X and said “It seems now only Chouhan and V.D. Sharma will survive in the MP BJP. Influential MLA from Kolaras, Virendra Raghuwanshi has resigned from the party after making serious allegations of corruption against BJP leaders and ministers. Very soon, the state will be BJP free as the sin of the sinners is now coming forth.”
BJP spokesman Hitesh Bajpai sought to make light of the situation saying that some such developments were expected ahead of the elections. “We are not worried. The party is keeping an eye on all such happenings,” he said.