Leaked audio exposes Indore Congress infighting:Senior leaders caught using foul language as former CM Digvijaya Singh becomes prime target

An audio recording of a conversation between two Congress leaders in Indore has been leaked. One of the voices is said to be that of former City Congress President Surjit Singh Chadha, and the other of City Congress President Chintu Choukse. At the centre of this alleged exchange between Chadha and Choukse is former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh. In the purported conversation, Choukse can be heard using expletives and abusive language against Digvijaya Singh, including mother-sister slurs. He tells Chadha, “Are we servants of someone’s father?” Meanwhile, Surjit Chadha attempts to calm him, referring to Digvijaya as “a father figure”, but Choukse’s anger remains unchecked. Listening to the entire conversation, it becomes evident that factionalism within the Indore Congress has now come to the fore. However, when Bhaskar spoke to Chadha about the audio, he denied it outright but added that “only those who are sidelining Digvijaya can answer this”. On the other hand, Chintu Choukse did not respond to calls. One city, one party, two pictures: Congress rift exposed To understand the root of this dispute, it’s important to revisit two incidents that took place in Indore on the morning of 31 October. These two events reveal the internal divide within the Indore Congress without embellishment. First picture: City Congress President Chintu Choukse, along with his supporters, reached to garland the statues of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Indira Gandhi. Here, he administered an oath of unity and integrity to party workers. Leaders present on stage gave speeches emphasising solidarity. Second picture: Exactly an hour later, at the same location, former CM Digvijaya Singh arrived with his old and trusted supporters. Former city president Surjit Singh Chadha was among them. Digvijaya Singh, along with his team, garlanded the same statues separately. The stage was different, the faces were different — and so was the message: all is not well within the Indore Congress. This was not a case of poor coordination but an open display of power. Despite being in Indore, Digvijaya Singh stayed away from the official City Congress Committee programme. Meanwhile, Chintu Choukse did not bother to invite such a senior party leader. The dispute began at Sheetlamata Market The roots of the conflict go back to late September, when reports emerged from Indore’s famous Sheetlamata Market that Muslim employees were allegedly being removed from certain shops. Digvijaya Singh immediately intervened on this sensitive issue, reaching Indore to meet affected traders and speak with senior police officials. Throughout this episode, City Congress President Chintu Choukse was conspicuously absent — raising several questions. The very next day, at a district-level coordination meeting at Gandhi Bhawan, Choukse indirectly targeted Digvijaya Singh without naming him. Choukse said, “Leaders coming from Bhopal or outside organise events on their own without informing us. This will not work anymore. Whether a big or small leader comes to Indore, they must first discuss it with the city and district organisation before any programme is finalised.” According to sources, there was another major reason behind Choukse’s resentment. During his Indore visit, Digvijaya Singh reportedly refused to meet Raju Bhadauria, considered close to Choukse, and even reprimanded him publicly. The incident was seen as a personal slight by Choukse, which he could not digest. The alleged conversation between the two leaders Surjit Chadha: Understand my point, Chintu. Digvijaya Singh ji’s stature is very big. If he’s going somewhere… you shouldn’t have said what you did in the meeting today. Chintu Choukse: Then how did he say, “Chintu, don’t come”? Are we his father’s servants? Surjit Chadha: That’s wrong. Your language is wrong… he’s like a father. Chintu Choukse: If he’s like a father, then tell him not to scold Jaivardhan Singh publicly. Are we anyone’s father’s servants? If he’s like a father, will he abuse publicly? Surjit Chadha: What the hell… what did he say? Chintu Choukse: Is Raju Bhadauria working for someone? Whoever speaks against will be cursed — no matter who it is. Choukse silent, Chadha evasive When Bhaskar contacted both leaders about the matter, Chintu Choukse did not respond to calls, while Surjit Chadha chose to speak. When asked about the conversation and informed that Bhaskar had access to the audio, Chadha denied any such exchange. He said, “I don’t remember any such conversation between us.” Yet, he repeatedly asked, “Do you really have that audio?” When told it contained abusive language and him advising Choukse, Chadha said, “What’s going on? Who’s doing all this? I don’t understand.” When asked whether the District Congress was deliberately sidelining Digvijaya Singh, Chadha replied, “Yes, it seems so.” He added, “Those who are doing this should be questioned.” Regarding the 31 October event, he admitted that Chintu Choukse should have invited him. Experts: Not just Indore’s, but MP Congress’s crisis Political analysts believe what’s unfolding in Indore is part of a much larger issue — the deep-seated malaise within the Madhya Pradesh Congress, which remains unresolved even after two decades out of power. They cite three key reasons: