MP BJP chief Khandelwal tells workers to sharpen grassroots push, counter Congress
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Madhya Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Hemant Khandelwal on Wednesday, 26 August directed the party's youth, farmer, and Scheduled Caste wings to intensify grassroots outreach and counter the opposition's narrative by presenting government achievements backed by facts and figures. He made the remarks while addressing separate meetings of the Scheduled Caste Morcha, Kisan Morcha, and Yuva Morcha at the BJP's state headquarters in Bhopal.
Key Directives to Party Wings
Khandelwal stressed the need for stronger communication between the organisation, government, and different sections of society. He called for direct outreach as well as a sharper social media presence, as the BJP looks to consolidate its organisational network and deepen its connect with young voters and rural communities.
Addressing the Yuva Morcha, Khandelwal said young people increasingly rely on social media for information and alleged that opposition parties were exploiting these platforms to build a negative perception of BJP-led governments. 'Young people are the strength of tomorrow, and it is everyone's responsibility to provide them with the correct information,' he said, urging workers to engage youth with facts about the party's record. He asked the youth wing to highlight government initiatives on employment, investment, industry, education, healthcare, irrigation, self-employment, and infrastructure, and to recruit more young members into the organisation.
Farmer Wing: 'Year of Farmers' Raises the Bar
At the Kisan Morcha meeting, Khandelwal said the state government's decision to observe 2026 as the 'Year of Farmers' had raised the responsibility of the party's farmer wing. He asked workers to visit villages, understand farmers' concerns, and ensure that information about government schemes reaches intended beneficiaries. The Morcha, he said, should serve as a direct link between farmers, the organisation, and the government.
Khandelwal also highlighted what he described as a significant expansion of irrigation in Madhya Pradesh, claiming that the irrigated area had grown from around 7.5 lakh hectares before 2003 to 55 lakh hectares under BJP governments — a claim he attributed to the party's development record in the state.
SC Morcha: BJP Targets Congress Over Ambedkar Legacy
At the Scheduled Caste Morcha meeting, Khandelwal targeted the Indian National Congress (Congress) over its historical treatment of B R Ambedkar. 'Congress has always insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar, while the BJP has honoured him,' he said — a line of attack the BJP has deployed repeatedly in its outreach to Dalit communities across multiple states.
Organisational Context
Wednesday's meetings are part of a broader BJP effort to activate its cadre base ahead of what is expected to be an intensified political cycle in Madhya Pradesh. This comes amid growing opposition pressure from the Congress, which has sought to question the state government's delivery on welfare and agricultural promises. Khandelwal's emphasis on social media counter-messaging signals that the party sees the information battleground as critical to holding its rural and youth voter base.