‘BJP is harassing, attacking Congress workers… Those who are scared are leaving’: MP Congress chief

Overcoming anti-incumbency of almost two decades, the BJP won the November 2023 Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, getting 163 of the 230 seats and reducing the Congress to 66. Since then, the BJP has been on the prowl in the state, and as per its claims, has managed to get thousands of Congress workers to cross ranks to its side.

Leading the battered Madhya Pradesh Congress unit amidst this challenge is former state minister Jitu Patwari. In an interview with The Indian Express, Patwari talks about the exodus of Congress leaders to the BJP, his strategy for the organisation’s revival, and plan for the coming Lok Sabha polls. Excerpts:

Congress workers are present in every lane and village, but there is a need to synchronise them all. But we did lose the elections and we need to improve. I am not denying this.

I have set a roadmap to develop an ideological, cadre-based organisation. After I took over, there were the Rajya Sabha nominations, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Now, we have the Lok Sabha elections. The process to strengthen the organisation is underway. Workers will be given the right direction. Our party is strong.

Tribal and SC voters have understood that the BJP is seeking 400 seats (across the country) to change the Constitution. And I am not saying this, the RSS has said this. BJP MP Anant Hegde said this clearly in front of the nation. They (the people) understand that voting for the BJP means changing Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s Constitution.

In the whole country, we are holding agitation programmes and trying to make the people understand that the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seal the bank accounts of Opposition leaders, file cases against them, send them to jail, and win elections under any