Following a comprehensive drubbing in the recently concluded elections in Haryana, the Madhya Pradesh Congress chief, Jitu Patwari, has shifted gears, ostensibly at the behest of the party high command.

After having launched massive agitations against the ruling BJP in the state, Patwari on Thursday shunted 11 block presidents of the party for neglecting missives from the state Congress headquarters. Party sources said that the state headquarters of the party is maintaining a close watch on the activities of party workers and leaders.

In the past month alone, Congress has launched two agitations in Madhya Pradesh. While the first sought a higher MSP for soybean farmers, the other targeted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party over its failure to control crimes against women and children.

The Congress party said that the ouster of the 11 block presidents—including seven from Chhindwara, two from Dhar, and one each from Alirajpur and Jhabua—was caused by their disinterest in party activities and their neglect of party directives.

Congress insiders say that a similar situation has been found with 11 district presidents, and they would also be taken to task.

They also claimed that even those party corporators in the state not taking interest in party activities would also be dealt with strictly.Following his first disciplinary move, party sources said that the PCC chief has sent out a clear signal to party leaders to actively engage in party activities and follow directives from the state headquarters or face the music.

The media in-charge of the state unit of Congress, Mukesh Nayak, told The Pioneer that the PCC chief himself is quite active and wants the party workers to remain active.

The working of party office bearers is being monitored continuously in all districts of the state.Regarding the announcement of the executive of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), Nayak stated that it would be declared in a couple of days.