The Congress party in Madhya Pradesh has found itself facing internal differences after remarks by former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh appeared to contradict allegations made by state Congress president Jitu Patwari regarding a land allotment in Ujjain. The controversy emerged while the opposition party was targeting the Mohan Yadav-led BJP government over the alleged allotment of government land worth nearly ₹500 crore to Veer Bharat Nyas for a token amount of Re 1. The differing public statements triggered speculation over divisions within the state Congress unit.

The issue began on June 24 when Jitu Patwari, accompanied by Congress media department chairman Pawan Khera, alleged that valuable government land had been allotted to Veer Bharat Nyas for Re 1. Patwari questioned the decision, pointing out that one of the trustees, Shriram Tiwari, serves as the Chief Minister's cultural adviser. The Congress accused the BJP government of favouritism and demanded accountability over the alleged land transaction.

However, during a press interaction in Ujjain, Digvijaya Singh said documents available with him indicated that Veer Bharat Nyas was not a private trust but a government trust headed ex officio by the chief minister. Singh said he does not comment on issues without proper research and added that people often make false allegations for personal gain. Although he later clarified that his remarks were not directed at Patwari or any Congress leader, his comments were widely interpreted as differing from the state leadership's position.

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The controversy was discussed during a Congress Political Affairs Committee meeting in Bhopal, where several leaders reportedly expressed concern over the conflicting public statements. MLA Arif Masood acknowledged that the issue was debated internally, while former minister Sajjan Singh Verma said those responsible for creating confusion had been identified. Former Leader of Opposition Govind Singh, however, dismissed suggestions of factionalism, saying the Congress is a democratic party where leaders are free to express their views.

The disagreement intensified after Congress general secretary Nidhi Satyavrat Chaturvedi criticised Digvijaya Singh in a social media post, accusing him of undermining the party and alleging that his actions were influenced by his desire to see his son, Jaivardhan Singh, become the state Congress president. The BJP quickly targeted the Congress over the episode, with state minister Vishvas Sarang claiming the party's own leaders had exposed its internal divisions and questioned the credibility of its allegations against the state government.

Amid the growing controversy, senior Congress leaders sought to project unity. Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar met Digvijaya Singh, while Singh and Jitu Patwari later addressed the media together, asserting that the party remained united in its campaign against the BJP government over alleged irregularities in land deals. Singh also clarified that he had never referred to Patwari or any Congress leader as a "dalal", describing the state Congress chief as being "like my son" and reiterating that the party would continue its united fight against corruption allegations involving the state government.

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