Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh has stirred a political storm after sharing a throwback photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the 1990s. The black-and-white image shows a young Modi sitting on the floor near BJP veteran LK Advani during a Gujarat political event. Singh praised the organizational strength of the BJP and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), noting how grassroots workers can rise to become Chief Ministers or even Prime Minister.
Posting the image on social media, Singh wrote that he found it “very impressive” to see the power of an organization that allows its workers to grow from the ground up. He added the remark “Jai Siya Ram” at the end of his post. The comment immediately went viral and drew sharp reactions from both political supporters and critics.
The BJP quickly seized on Singh’s statement to target Congress leadership. Party spokesperson CR Kesavan called it a “truth bomb” exposing the “autocratic and undemocratic” functioning of Congress, questioning whether Rahul Gandhi would respond.
Singh later clarified that while he had praised the organizational structure of the RSS and BJP, he remained an opponent of their politics and policies. Analysts note that Singh’s posts may also serve as a subtle message to the Congress high command, highlighting the need for reforms within the party. He had previously urged Rahul Gandhi to implement more pragmatic and decentralized functioning within Congress.
Political observers point out that Singh’s second Rajya Sabha term is ending soon, and the controversy comes at a sensitive time when internal Congress rivalries in Madhya Pradesh are intensifying. Leaders like Kamal Nath and Meenakshi Natarajan are reportedly in line for his seat, while state Congress leaders Jitu Patwari and Umang Singhar are seen as “anti-Digvijaya.”
The post has sparked widespread debate, reflecting ongoing tensions within Congress and the larger political discourse surrounding party structures in India.
