Rumor mills in the state capital are in overdrive since a recent tweet by senior BJP legislator embarrassed the state government and forced observers to ask, "Gopal Bhargava ko ghussa kyon aata hai?"
Whispers in the state capital suggest that the uncharacteristic tweet by the party veteran, who is also the senior most legislator in the state assembly, is brimming with innuendo, as he has long been sidelined in the party.Sources in the BJP on condition of anonymity confirm that Bhargava's recent outburst ostensibly over a substantial rise in crimes against women in the state is an attempt to return to the political center-stage.
On Sunday, Bhargava kicked up a minor political storm when he posted a picture of a young girl with her head on her knees on one side and Ravana on the other. Without getting into specifics, Bhargava simply questioned the moral right of burning Ravana (under these circumstances).
While party leaders maintain that the social media post should not be taken out of context, political observers iterate that the post is an understated comment on Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who also holds the portfolio for Home."With additional charge of the Home Ministry, the Chief Minister is directly responsible for law and the state," they insist while adding that the tweet has found its mark as Bhargava has sent alarm bells ringing in Bhopal.
Bhargava's annoyance is natural, as he has neither been included in the state cabinet nor has he been given any responsibility in the party organization despite being a member of the cabinet on six occasions. This is the highest number of terms held by any minister in the Madhya Pradesh cabinet.He has held the position of cabinet minister continuously since the BJP stormed to power in the state in 2003. Bhargava was named leader of the opposition in the state assembly when the Congress pulled off a surprise victory in 2018.
"With such sparkling credentials behind him, it seems unfair on part of the BJP to leave such a senior leader along the sidelines. It is reasonable for Bhargava to get fidgety as the Mohan Yadav government nears the completion of its first year in office," remarks a political observer.
Bhargava has won the Rahali seat in nine consecutive elections since 1985. He also holds the state record for his winning streak from the constituency, as no other leader has held a seat for as many terms. The BJP inner circles have been aware of Bhargava's displeasure for a while now, as he and former minister Bhupendra Singh had left a recent investor conclave at Sagar citing urgent work.
Like Bhargava, Bhupendra Singh also represents the Sagar district, and the two had been cabinet colleagues till their marginalization at the hands of the party. The district is now represented by Govind Singh Rajput, a loyalist of union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who moved to the BJP from arch-rivals Congress.
Party insiders agree that both Bhargava and Singh have been unhappy with the state of affairs in the party since the last assembly elections, which coincided with their sidelining.
Claims and aspersions aside, the party continues to underplay Bhargava's social media post. BJP State Unit spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal says that the tweet is a message to society that people need to overcome the Ravana (demon) within, as it is responsible for the rise in crimes against women.
