A major controversy erupted within the Congress party just ahead of a crucial meeting of its top decision-making body, as senior leader Digvijaya Singh made remarks that were perceived as praise for the ideological and organizational structure of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The incident has laid bare simmering discontent and calls for internal reform, which the opposition BJP was quick to exploit.
A Social Media Post That Lit the Fuse
On Saturday, December 27, 2025, just before the Congress Working Committee (CWC) convened at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi, Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh posted on X (formerly Twitter). In his Hindi post, he shared a picture from the 1990s showing BJP veteran L.K. Advani at a Gujarat event with a younger Narendra Modi sitting on the floor nearby.
Singh's caption stated that he found the image "very impressive." He remarked that the way grassroots RSS workers and Jan Sangh/BJP members sit at the feet of their leaders and later rise to become chief ministers or even the Prime Minister demonstrates the "power of the organisation." He ended the post with "Jai Siya Ram." The post immediately triggered a political storm, with many interpreting it as an endorsement of the rival camp's organizational model.
Clarification and a Call for Decentralization
As the row over his tweet intensified, Digvijaya Singh asserted that the media had misunderstood his intent. He clarified that while he praised the organizational strength, he remains a "staunch opponent of the RSS and Modi ji." This controversy was not an isolated incident. It came just a week after the Congress veteran publicly called for significant reforms within his own party.
On December 19, Singh had tagged Rahul Gandhi in an X post, applauding him on socio-economic issues but urging him to focus on the Indian National Congress itself. He drew a parallel with the Election Commission of India, stating that the Congress too needs reforms. Singh advocated for "more pragmatic, decentralised functioning" and pointed out that while 'organisation srijan' (creation) had begun, convincing Gandhi to implement such changes was not easy.
Political Fallout and BJP's Attack
The BJP swiftly capitalized on the internal discord within the Congress. Party national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari stated that Singh was openly dissenting against Rahul Gandhi and making it clear that the Congress organization had collapsed under his leadership. "Congress vs Congress on display!" Bhandari declared, using the remarks to highlight alleged divisions within the opposition party.
Meanwhile, the CWC meeting, overshadowed by this row, proceeded with its agenda. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, in his opening remarks, focused on mobilizing against the central government's renaming of the MGNREGA scheme. He accused the Modi government of scrapping MGNREGA without study or consultation with states, akin to the three farm laws, and called for a nationwide movement against the move. Kharge charged that by scrapping MGNREGA, the government had "stabbed the poor in the back after kicking them in the stomach."
The events of the day underscore a period of intense introspection and public friction for the Congress. The combination of a senior leader's controversial remarks, a public push for organizational overhaul, and the immediate political backlash from rivals paints a picture of a party grappling with its future strategy and structure.
