Amidst discussions regarding conflicting statements from senior Congress members on the Ujjain land deal issue, AICC General Secretary Harish Chaudhary clarified that State Congress Chief Jitu Patwari’s accusations against Chief Minister Mohan Yadav represent the party’s official stance. Chaudhary highlighted that Patwari’s statements were made during an official Congress briefing, aligning them with the party’s position.
Chaudhary emphasized that while former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh expressed differing views on the matter, his comments were personal and not reflective of the Congress party’s official standpoint. The controversy arose after Patwari accused the BJP government of transferring government land in Ujjain, valued at approximately Rs 500 crore, to Bharat Nyas for a nominal amount.
The BJP promptly dismissed Patwari’s claims as unfounded and politically motivated. Following Patwari’s press conference, Digvijaya Singh’s statements during a separate media interaction in Ujjain appeared to diverge from Patwari’s position, sparking speculation about internal differences within the State Congress leadership.
Chaudhary sought to dispel uncertainties by clarifying that Digvijaya Singh’s press conference was not an official Congress event. He reiterated that Singh’s proposed padyatra and press interactions were personal endeavors, distinct from the party’s activities. The ongoing controversy also escalated legally, with Bharat Nyas issuing a legal notice to Patwari, refuting the allegations and asserting compliance with legal procedures.
Chaudhary’s statements are viewed as an effort by the Congress leadership to present a unified front following the contrasting remarks by Patwari and Digvijaya Singh, which fueled conjecture about the party’s strategy against the BJP-led state government.
