Jyotiraditya Scindia's Collectorate Comeback Shakes BJP: Gwalior Politics Split Wide Open
What was meant to be a bland review of development works in the Gwalior Collectorate on Monday turned into a sizzling political theatre.
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Monday's events revealed an undeniable truth - Gwalior's BJP has fractured into two distinct factions.
Gwalior:
What should have been a routine development review at the Gwalior Collectorate on Monday transformed into riveting political drama. The protagonist - Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who returned after an 18-month absence and immediately reignited the city's political tensions.
Officially, Minister-in-Charge Tulsi Silavat led the meeting, but everyone recognized who commanded attention. Surrounded by Energy Minister Pradhuman Singh Tomar, Minister Narayan Singh Kushwaha, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Singh, Mayor Shobha Sikarwar, and Congress MLA Suresh Raje, Mr Scindia controlled the proceedings. Meanwhile, Gwalior BJP MP Bharat Singh Kushwaha's conspicuous absence spoke volumes.
Mr Scindia's calculated return comes with purpose. Insiders reveal that both the Chief Minister and BJP's national leadership have instructed him to reestablish influence in the Gwalior-Chambal region - once his undisputed territory. His previous withdrawal occurred after Bharat Singh Kushwaha publicly challenged his authority, stating, "He is MP of Guna-Shivpuri, not Gwalior." That rebuke had forced Mr Scindia to step back. Until this moment.
Recent Gwalior news has highlighted deteriorating infrastructure and sanitation problems. The most vocal critic has been Mr Scindia's close ally, Energy Minister Pradhuman Singh Tomar, who boldly declared during a cabinet meeting: "Gwalior has turned into hell." Even when the Chief Minister attempted to silence him, Mr Tomar persisted. Tulsi Silavat (Minister Incharge of Gwalior) also supported these criticisms.
Mr Scindia's Collectorate appearance followed shortly after his grand reception in Morena, Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar's stronghold. Their rivalry is now evident. While Narendra Tomar maintains regional control, Agriculture Minister Edal Singh Kansana has distanced himself from Tomar's influence. Meanwhile, Bharat Singh Kushwaha, a Tomar loyalist, has notably been spending time in Bhopal under the Chief Minister's supervision.
Monday's events revealed an undeniable truth - Gwalior's BJP has fractured into two distinct factions. Just three days earlier, MP Bharat Singh Kushwaha had conducted his own development review. On Monday, Mr Scindia arrived at the Collectorate with his supporters, examining the same projects without the MP present. The significance? This marked Mr Scindia's first Collectorate meeting as a BJP MP, and he commanded it entirely. His supporters excitedly suggested that the "Maharaj era" - when nothing in Gwalior proceeded without his approval during Congress days - was returning.
Mr Tomar has publicly championed Mr Scindia. At Murar Girls College, he proclaimed, "Maharaj, Gwalior's development has stalled. Only you can restore progress." Shortly thereafter, Scindia-loyal MLA Mohan Singh Rathore criticized the government's flagship Jal Jeevan Mission, claiming no projects reached his constituency. After Mr Tomar described Gwalior as "hell," Mr Scindia launched a four-day tour, culminating in a visit to Morena - Narendra Tomar's territory - where he pointedly noted that BJP had secured "only half the seats in the last Assembly elections." Everyone understood his target.
Now, the recent meeting featuring Mr Scindia in the central role, with Mr Silavat and Mr Tomar supporting him, and Bharat Singh Kushwaha noticeably absent, confirms internal discord within BJP's stronghold. The Scindia faction feels constrained within a party that doesn't permit the unchallenged authority he enjoyed in Congress, and his supporters have openly expressed their dissatisfaction.
Further complicating matters, the conflict has expanded to social media platforms. BJP leaders themselves have become digital adversaries: Sonu Mangal, loyal to Tomar, clashing with Dinesh Sharma, a Scindia supporter. Their online disputes mirror the division fracturing Gwalior's BJP ranks.