Scindia Slams Congress as 'Ideologically Bankrupt' Amid Candidate Woes

In a scathing attack on his former party, BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia has declared the Congress "ideologically bankrupt" and "heading towards its end." The Union Minister and BJP candidate for the Guna Lok Sabha seat attributed the Congress's decline to a lack of candidates and withdrawals in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Why this matters: Scindia's criticism of the Congress highlights the party's struggles to remain relevant in Indian politics, which could have significant implications for the country's political landscape. The decline of the Congress could lead to a shift in power dynamics, potentially altering the course of India's economic and social policies.

In an interview with PTI, Scindia pulled no punches, stating, "The Congress has become bankrupt in terms of ideology, human resources... Nobody wants to stay with the Congress and there is no honour and respect for anyone in the party." The former Congress stalwart, who severed his 18-year-long ties with the party in 2020, further criticized the party's stance on constitutional matters, saying, "The party that imposed Emergency in the country is now giving lessons on the Constitution."

Scindia's comments come amid the Lok Sabha elections, where the Congress has struggled to field candidates in many seats, and some of its nominees have withdrawn from the race. The BJP, on the other hand, has been gaining momentum, with Scindia confident that the party will perform well in Madhya Pradesh.

The Guna Lok Sabha constituency, where Scindia is contesting for the sixth time, holds a special place in his family's political history. The seat was earlier represented by his late father Madhavrao Scindia and late grandmother Vijayaraje Scindia. Guna comprises eight assembly seats across three districts: Guna, Ashoknagar, and Shivpuri. There are 18,83,202 voters in the constituency, including 9,80,683 men, 9,02,471 women, and 48 third-gender persons.

Scindia's defection from the Congressto the BJP in 2020 led to a major political upheaval in Madhya Pradesh. In a coordinated rebellion, Scindia quit the party along with 22 MLAs loyal to him, resulting in the collapse of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government and the BJP's return to power in the state. The BJP won six assembly seats in the 2023 Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, while the Congress managed to secure only two.

As Scindia campaigns across the Guna constituency, he emphasizes his family's long-standing ties with the region. The emotional appeal is palpable, with his wife Priyadarshini and son Mahanaaryaman also actively campaigning alongside him. Guna goes to polls on May 7 in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections. With Scindia's scathing criticism of the Congress and the party's struggles in fielding candidates, the battle for Guna and the larger political landscape in Madhya Pradesh promises to be a closely watched contest.

Key Takeaways

• BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia calls Congress "ideologically bankrupt" and "heading towards its end".
• Congress struggles to field candidates and faces withdrawals in Lok Sabha elections.
• Scindia criticizes Congress's stance on constitutional matters, citing its past imposition of Emergency.
• Guna Lok Sabha constituency, where Scindia is contesting, holds significance in his family's political history.
• Scindia's defection from Congress to BJP in 2020 led to a major political upheaval in Madhya Pradesh.