BJP gives dressing-down to MLA who called Collector a ‘chor’ in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind

According to party sources, the episode has been treated as a case of “gross indiscipline.” State BJP president Hemant Khandelwal, state in-charge Dr Mahendra Singh, and state organisation secretary Hitanand Sharma held a meeting with Kushwaha at Sharma’s residence in Bhopal, where the MLA was directed to “maintain the dignity of a public representative and improve his conduct.”

The leadership made it clear that such behaviour was “contrary to the party line” and “would not be tolerated in future.”

The reprimand comes days after a heated confrontation outside the official residence of Collector Srivastava in Bhind. Kushwaha, accompanied by his supporters, had staged a protest alleging a shortage of fertiliser for farmers.

A video of the confrontation, which went viral on Wednesday, purportedly shows the collector telling the MLA, “Chori nahi hone dunga (I will not allow theft),” to which Kushwaha angrily retorts, “Sabse bada chor tu khud hai (You are the biggest thief).”

The video also shows the MLA raising his hand as if to hit the officer, while farmers in the background shout slogans against the administration. The MLA then staged a sit-in outside the Collector’s residence, accusing officials of ignoring farmers’ distress.

The video circulated widely on social media, sparking criticism of the MLA’s conduct. Opposition parties were quick to latch on to the controversy, accusing the BJP of shielding elected representatives who intimidate civil servants.

Faced with mounting backlash, the BJP state leadership moved swiftly to contain the damage. “The MLA’s behaviour was found to be unacceptable. He has been firmly told that this cannot happen again,” a senior BJP functionary said after Friday’s meeting.

Party insiders admitted that the public reprimand was aimed at drawing a clear line of accountability, especially as the BJP prepares for upcoming local body and state-level political contests where its relationship with the bureaucracy will be under scrutiny.

The MLA, who represents the Mehgaon constituency in Bhind district, has not issued a public apology so far. However, sources close to the leadership indicated that he has “assured the party of corrective conduct.”

This is not the first time party president Hemant Khandelwal has had to sit with an MLA. Said a senior party functionary, “This is the tradition of the BJP, and there is nothing unprecedented about this. In the last few weeks, the party president has spoken to other leaders who made statements in public. They are advised to maintain decorum and not damage the party’s image.”

Party sources said that Khandelwal has held damage control meetings with Chachouda MLA Priyanka Pechi, who accused district SP Ankit Soni of mental harassment over police transfers in her constituency; BJP MLA Pradeep Agarwal, who alleged that gambling and robbery incidents were on the rise in his district; and Indore-3 MLA Golu Shukla, whose son allegedly got into a dispute with Mahakal temple priests.