A political storm has broken out over a video purportedly showing Congress MP Shyamkumar Barve slapping fellow party MP Pratibha Dhanorkar inside a bus on 1 November, while the two were en route to the INDIA bloc's rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. The video drew sharp condemnation from Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam, even as Dhanorkar herself dismissed the controversy, calling it a harmless interaction twisted for political gain.

What the Video Purportedly Shows

The clip, which circulated widely on social media, appears to show Barve striking Dhanorkar during a bus journey taken by Congress MPs to attend the opposition rally at Ramlila Maidan on 1 November. Both MPs represent constituencies in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region. Dhanorkar was elected to the Lok Sabha from Chandrapur following the death of her husband and former MP Balubhau Dhanorkar.

Condemnation from Athawale and Nirupam

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale termed the alleged act 'unacceptable,' stating that the Congress party's actions do not reflect respect for women. 'Congress leader slapping a woman is absolutely wrong. The Congress party should respect women, but its actions do not reflect that sentiment. Slapping a woman is unacceptable, and the person who did so should apologise. Raising a hand against women is never acceptable,' he said.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam described the video as 'highly objectionable' and said Congress leaders should feel ashamed after watching it. 'It shows a Congress MP assaulting another woman MP, whom I believe to be Pratibha Dhanorkar,' Nirupam said, adding that her dignity as a woman public representative had been compromised and that the incident was 'shameful.'

Dhanorkar's Response: 'Distorted and Misused'

Dhanorkar pushed back firmly against what she described as a politically motivated misrepresentation. In a statement shared on social media, she said the exchange was a casual, lighthearted interaction with a colleague she regards as a brother, adding that it carried 'absolutely no ill intent.' 'An incident that occurred very simply and naturally with a fellow MP, who is like a brother to me, while en route to that movement, is today being made viral on social media with a highly distorted mentality and in a wrongful manner. I strongly condemn this twisting and misuse for political gain of that simple incident,' she said.

She also invoked the legacy of her late husband: 'I too am the tigress of the late MP Balubhau Dhanorkar, and his teachings, his inspiration, and his blessings are always with me. Therefore, I will not be cowed down by such malicious propaganda; instead, I will stand even more firmly and courageously.'

Political Fault Lines

The incident has opened a fresh fault line within and around the INDIA bloc, coming at a sensitive moment when opposition unity is under scrutiny. Critics argue the episode hands the ruling coalition a talking point on the opposition's internal culture, even as Dhanorkar maintains the narrative is fabricated. Notably, the condemnation has come not just from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-aligned Athawale but also from Nirupam, a former Congress member now with Shiv Sena, amplifying the optics of intra-opposition discord.

What Happens Next

As of 4 November 2026, the Congress party has not issued an official response on the video or any action against Barve. With the clip continuing to circulate and opposition voices divided, the episode is likely to remain a pressure point in the coming days, particularly as the INDIA bloc's rally narrative competes with the controversy it has generated.