The Madhya Pradesh Congress on Tuesday, 11 August convened a nearly five-hour meeting of its Political Affairs Committee (PAC) at the Pradesh Congress office in Bhopal, reviewing the party's organisational health and charting an agitation roadmap against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government on issues affecting farmers, students, youth, women, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Who Attended — and Who Did Not

The meeting was attended by senior leaders including state in-charge Harish Choudhary, state Congress president Jitu Patwari, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, and Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha, along with several former ministers and legislators. Former chief minister Digvijaya Singh participated virtually. Notably, former chief minister Kamal Nath and former Union minister Arun Yadav were absent, with no reason given for their non-attendance — an absence that drew attention given the meeting's significance.

Key Issues on the Agenda

The PAC deliberated on the Congress' ongoing organisation-building drive and the issues it plans to press against the BJP government in the coming weeks. Among the concerns raised were a fertiliser shortage affecting farmers, allegations of corruption in Ujjain, cases registered against Congress workers, and what the party described as attempts to suppress democratic voices. The demand for direct elections to student unions was also discussed.

Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, Harish Choudhary said the party would fight for the rights of multiple sections of society through both political and organisational channels. 'Congress will strongly fight for the rights of youth, students, farmers, women and OBCs,' he said, adding that a statewide agitation would be launched if required.

Datia Bypoll Boost and Legal Challenge

State Congress chief Jitu Patwari said the recent Datia Assembly bypoll victory had boosted party morale and reflected public support for political change. He said the party would continue raising issues of unemployment, education, farmers' fertiliser problems, reservation for women and OBCs, crime, and alleged political harassment of Congress workers.

The PAC also discussed a proposed legal challenge over the rejection of the Congress' Rajya Sabha nomination. Patwari alleged that Assembly secretary and election officer Arvind Sharma had misused his position under political pressure, and said the party was preparing to approach the court.

OBC Reservation and Tribal Rights

Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar reiterated demands for 27 per cent OBC reservation, protection of tribal rights, and direct elections to student unions — issues the party intends to anchor its public campaigns around in the weeks ahead. The Congress indicated that the deliberations from the PAC meeting would directly shape its forthcoming political programmes and street-level mobilisation.