Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh has triggered fresh political controversy after sharing a black and white throwback photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the 1990s and openly acknowledging the organisational depth of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The post, shared on social media platform X, immediately drew widespread attention as it sharply contrasted with the Congress party’s long-standing criticism of the BJP and the RSS. Singh’s remarks stood out not only for their tone but also for their timing, coming amid internal deliberations within the Congress over its organisational future.
The image shared by Singh shows a young Narendra Modi seated on the floor near senior BJP leader LK Advani at a public function in Gujarat. The photograph is believed to have been taken during the swearing-in ceremony of former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela in 1996.
Referring to the image, Singh highlighted how grassroots workers within the RSS and BJP rise through the ranks to occupy positions of power, including chief ministers and even the prime minister. He described this upward mobility as a reflection of the “power of the organisation”, underscoring the role of cadre-based politics in shaping leadership.
In his post, Singh wrote that the photograph was impressive and symbolised how disciplined workers who once sat at the feet of senior leaders could eventually lead the nation. He concluded the message with the slogan “Jai Siya Ram”.
Digvijay Singh openly dissents against Rahul Gandhi.
He makes it clear that under Rahul Gandhi the Congresss organization has collapsed.
Congress vs Congress on display! pic.twitter.com/meGMyHF9wc
— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) December 27, 2025
Notably, Singh tagged the official Congress social media handles along with party president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a move widely interpreted as a pointed message to the party’s high command.
The controversy unfolded as the Congress Working Committee met in Delhi to discuss the party’s organisational structure and political strategy. During the meeting, Digvijaya Singh reportedly remarked that the Congress had become overly centralised and needed to reconnect with its grassroots, saying the party must “hit the roots”.
These comments, read alongside his social media post, have been seen by political observers as an implicit critique of the Congress leadership model, especially when contrasted with the cadre-driven structure of the RSS–BJP.
The BJP was quick to capitalise on Singh’s remarks. Party spokesperson CR Kesavan said the post exposed the Congress as an autocratic and undemocratic organisation, arguing that even senior leaders were now publicly acknowledging its structural weaknesses.
Another BJP spokesperson, Pradip Bhandari, went further, claiming that Singh’s post reflected open dissent against Rahul Gandhi. “Digvijaya Singh openly dissents against Rahul Gandhi. He makes it clear that under Rahul Gandhi the Congress organisation has collapsed. Congress versus Congress is now on public display,” Bhandari said.
BJP leaders framed the episode as evidence of ideological confusion and internal fragmentation within the Congress, contrasting it with what they described as the BJP’s disciplined and decentralised organisational framework.
Facing mounting political reactions, Digvijaya Singh later clarified his stance, insisting that his comments were being selectively interpreted. He said that he had merely praised the organisational efficiency of the RSS-BJP and had not altered his ideological opposition.
“I have only praised the organisation. I have always opposed the RSS and Prime Minister Modi. I remain against the policies of the RSS and Modi ji,” Singh said, attempting to draw a distinction between organisational admiration and ideological alignment.
Despite the clarification, the episode has fuelled debate within political circles over whether Singh’s remarks signal deeper dissatisfaction within the Congress about its leadership structure and lack of grassroots mobilisation.
By publicly acknowledging the organisational strength of its principal political rival and tagging top Congress leaders, Digvijaya Singh’s post has added to the perception of internal churn within the party at a time when it is grappling with electoral challenges and questions of leadership and direction.
