Congress leader Digvijaya Singh’s PM Modi, LK Advani throwback photo, praise for RSS sets off political storm

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh found himself at the centre of a political storm on Saturday after sharing an old black-and-white photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi seated on the floor near BJP veteran LK Advani at a Gujarat event in the 1990s.

In his post on X, Singh reflected on how a grassroots worker of the RSS and Jan Sangh could rise through organisational ranks to become chief minister and eventually prime minister, calling it an example of the “power of organisation”.

The post, which Singh said he had sourced from Quora, sparked sharp reactions within political circles, especially as it came just ahead of a crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting. Singh tagged several senior Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, while urging attention to organisational strength at the grassroots.

Singh clarifies stand

As criticism mounted, Singh issued a firm clarification, stating that his remarks were being misunderstood. He stressed that while he admired strong organisational structures, he remained ideologically opposed to both the RSS and Prime Minister Modi.

“I support organisation. I am against the RSS and Modi ji. I have praised ‘sangathan’. I was, am and will remain a staunch opponent of the RSS and Modi. Is praising organisation a bad thing?” Singh said while speaking to reporters after the CWC meeting.

Inside the meeting, sources said Singh pushed for strengthening the Congress at the grassroots and pressed for greater decentralisation. Some senior leaders reportedly asked him to stay focused on the meeting’s main agenda — the party’s agitation plan against the alleged dilution of MGNREGA — after which Singh refrained from pursuing the issue further. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also intervened, asking to hear other leaders’ views.

BJP attacks Congress leadership

The BJP wasted no time in using Singh’s remarks to target the Congress leadership. Party spokesperson CR Kesavan described Singh’s comments as a “truth bomb”, alleging that they exposed the “autocratic and undemocratic” functioning of the Congress and questioning whether Rahul Gandhi would respond to the charge.

Former Congress leader Gaurav Vallabh also weighed in, claiming Singh’s comments reinforced the perception of the party as a “family-run organisation” where leadership opportunities are restricted.

Earlier this week, Singh had publicly praised Rahul Gandhi on socio-economic issues while also urging internal reforms within the Congress. Drawing parallels with Rahul’s call for Election Commission reforms, Singh wrote that the Congress too needed “pragmatic decentralised functioning” to remain competitive.