A political firestorm erupted within the Indian National Congress on Saturday, December 27, 2025, after senior leader and former Madhya Pradesh CM Digvijaya Singh publicly lauded the organizational strength of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP.1 Singh’s remarks, which coincided with a crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, forced the party into an aggressive damage-control mode.
The “Impressive” Photo Post
The controversy began when Singh shared a vintage 1995 black-and-white photograph (sourced from Quora) showing a young Narendra Modi sitting on the floor at the feet of then-BJP President LK Advani.2
- The Statement: “I found this image… It’s very impressive. How an RSS grassroots swayamsevak and Jan Sangh/BJP worker sat on the floor… and became the state’s CM and the country’s PM.3 This is the power of the organisation,” Singh posted on X (formerly Twitter).
- The Critique: Singh used the example to highlight what he describes as “over-centralization” within the Congress, urging Rahul Gandhi to adopt a more “pragmatic, decentralized functioning.”4
Internal Rift: Congress Divided
Singh’s comments created an immediate divide within the party’s top brass during the CWC meeting, which was originally intended to discuss the government’s new VB-GRAMG Act (the replacement for MGNREGA).5
| Leader | Response to Singh’s Remarks |
| Digvijaya Singh | Clarified he is a “staunch critic” of RSS ideology but admires their structural discipline. |
| Supriya Shrinate | Stated Congress has “nothing to learn” from an organization linked to Godse. |
| Shashi Tharoor | Remarked that Congress has its own 140-year history to learn from. |
| Salman Khurshid | Defended Singh, saying “appreciating facts and accessing ideology are different things.” |
| Sanjay Raut (SS-UBT) | Questioned Singh’s “change of mind,” citing his past parliamentary attacks on the RSS. |
BJP’s “Truth Bomb” Retort
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was quick to weaponize Singh’s post to target the Gandhi family.6
- National Spokesperson CR Kesavan: Labeled Singh’s post a “Truth Bomb” that exposed the “dictatorial” and “undemocratic” nature of the Congress leadership.
- The “Merit” Argument: BJP leaders argued that Singh’s post proves that in their organization, a “grassroots worker” can reach the top, whereas Congress remains a “family-owned company.”7
Context: The 2026 Strategy
Observers believe Singh’s public nudging of Rahul Gandhi is part of a larger internal push for reforms ahead of the 2026 State Elections and the 2026 T20 World Cup season (during which political activity usually peaks in India).
- The “Convince” Problem: Singh’s pinned post on X specifically mentions that while Rahul Gandhi is “bang on” on socio-economic issues, it is “not easy to ‘convince’ him” regarding organizational decentralization.8