All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and Madhya Pradesh In-charge Harish Chaudhary on Friday, 10 July moved to end speculation over conflicting statements within the state Congress, asserting that State Congress Chief Jitu Patwari's allegations against Chief Minister Mohan Yadav over the alleged Ujjain land deal constitute the party's official position, while former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh's divergent remarks were made in a personal capacity.

Chaudhary made the clarification during a press conference in Indore, where Congress leaders were targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government over a separate issue — the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

What Chaudhary Said

'Jitu Patwari's press conference was an official Congress press conference. Whatever he said regarding the alleged land scam is the Congress party's official stand. If there are any discrepancies in facts or figures, other leaders have the right to express their views, but Jitu Patwari's statement remains the party's official position,' Chaudhary said, responding directly to questions about Digvijaya Singh's differing remarks.

On Digvijaya Singh's separate media interaction in Ujjain — which had triggered speculation of internal divisions — Chaudhary was unambiguous: 'Digvijaya Singh's press conference was his personal press conference. Likewise, his proposed padyatra is also his personal programme. He himself has stated that it is not a Congress programme.'

The Ujjain Land Deal Controversy

The row centres on allegations made by Patwari that the BJP government transferred government land in Ujjain, reportedly worth around ₹500 crore, to Bharat Nyas for just ₹1. The BJP has rejected these allegations as 'baseless' and 'politically motivated.'

The controversy has since taken a legal turn. Bharat Nyas has issued a legal notice to Patwari, demanding that he withdraw his statements and offer a public apology. The trust has denied the allegations and maintained that the land transaction was conducted in full compliance with the law.

The Digvijaya Factor

A day after Patwari's press conference, Digvijaya Singh addressed a separate media interaction in Ujjain where his characterisation of the issue appeared to diverge from Patwari's presentation, fuelling speculation of a rift within the state Congress. Chaudhary's intervention is widely seen as an effort by the party's central leadership to close ranks behind its state unit chief and present a unified front against the BJP government.

When asked whether he would join Digvijaya Singh's proposed foot march from Ujjain to Adhiya, Chaudhary declined, noting: 'It is not a Congress march. He himself has clarified that it is not a political march.'

What Happens Next

With Bharat Nyas pursuing legal action against Patwari and the BJP pressing its 'baseless allegations' line, the Congress faces pressure to either substantiate its ₹500 crore land transfer claim with documentary evidence or risk the controversy rebounding on its own state leadership. The party's ability to sustain a coordinated attack on the BJP government may hinge on whether Digvijaya Singh's independent positioning continues to complicate the official narrative.