Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress Suspends 60 Leaders for Missing Rahul Gandhi’s Delhi Rally

The Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress has suspended 60 office-bearers for failing to attend the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, addressed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. However, several suspended leaders have defended their absence, citing family weddings, bereavements, childbirth and health problems.

The suspended office-bearers include nine district presidents, five vice-presidents, 14 general secretaries and 32 secretaries. The suspension orders, issued on November 3, took immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice.

The rally was organised as a show of strength by the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The Youth Congress leadership described the absence of the Madhya Pradesh representatives as an instance of organisational indiscipline, saying the action followed instructions from the organisation’s national leadership.

However, some suspended leaders told The Indian Express that they had genuine reasons for missing the event and questioned why they were not asked to explain their absence before disciplinary action was taken.

Family Commitments Behind Some Absences

Saurabh Sharma, Youth Congress district president from Maihar, said he could not attend because his elder brother had become a father after 12 years.

Sharma said he had informed the state president and other senior officials about the family occasion and had also extended invitations.

He maintained that he had regularly participated in organisational activities and considered himself among the more active district presidents. He said he would appeal against the suspension.

Sharma also questioned the decision to suspend leaders without first issuing show-cause notices, arguing that those with genuine reasons should have been given an opportunity to explain.

Rohit Rajouriya, a Youth Congress general secretary, cited the death of his uncle as the reason for his absence. He said he had informed the state president and another senior Youth Congress official and had sought permission to miss the rally.

Illness Cited by Several Leaders

Some suspended office-bearers said health problems prevented them from travelling to Delhi.

Manvendra Mishra, the Youth Congress district president in Anuppur, said he was unwell and could not attend. He acknowledged that he had not informed the state leadership beforehand, describing it as a communication gap.

Mishra added that members of his entire team had attended the rally and that travel tickets had already been arranged. He said he would submit his explanation to the leadership.

Youth Congress vice-president Rajveer Singh Kudiya also cited serious health problems, expressing regret over his absence. He maintained that he remained active in party programmes and constituency-related activities.

General secretary Suman Maurya said she was suffering from fever, cough and cold because of changing weather conditions.

Maurya explained that she had been too unwell to answer repeated calls from senior leaders or inform them that she would not be attending the rally.

Sister’s Wedding Cited as Another Reason

Youth Congress vice-president Shivraj Singh Yadav said he missed the rally because of his younger sister’s wedding.

He explained that he was the only brother and had important family responsibilities to fulfil during the marriage celebrations.

Yadav said he had informed senior officials about his circumstances and was now waiting for the organisation’s decision.

Youth Congress Leadership Defends Disciplinary Action

Shivi Singh Chauhan, the Youth Congress’s Madhya Pradesh in-charge, defended the suspensions, saying the organisation had considered attendance records and prior communication with its leadership.

She said disciplinary action was taken based on the office-bearers’ previous organisational records and that those who had informed the leadership about their inability to attend were not targeted.

According to Chauhan, action was restricted to those who remained absent without communicating their reasons.

The suspensions have sparked questions within the state unit over how disciplinary decisions are handled and whether office-bearers should be given an opportunity to explain personal circumstances before facing organisational action.