‘Corruption prevailing in party’: Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Pratap Singh quits BJP ahead of LS polls

“I have lost faith in the functioning of the party... There is a difference between the words and actions of the BJP," Ajay Pratap Singh said.

The Rajya Sabha member, one of the aspirants for party ticket from Sidhi Lok Sabha seat, also expressed displeasure over the process of ticket distribution. (Source: X/@mpajaypratap)

In a first high-profile exit of a BJP leader in Madhya Pradesh even as the state BJP unit has been trying to taking advantage of the exodus from Congress, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Pratap Singh resigned from the party Saturday, alleging “corruption is prevailing in the party”, after BJP fielded Rajesh Mishra from Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi constituency amid speculations that Singh would contest as an independent candidate.

Announcing his resignation from the party’s primary membership at a press conference, Singh said, “politics was truly a medium of service for me, not for earning money. Today some circumstances have arisen such that I do not consider myself compatible with the BJP… ”

The Congress has fielded CWC member Kamleshwar Patel from Sidhi.

Asked if his decision stemmed from being denied a Lok Sabha ticket, Singh said, “I have no objection to any candidate, but I have objections to the functioning of the party and the selection system (of candidates). I disagree with that.”

“I felt several things in the party during this period. I couldn’t speak about them while being in the party, but I can say it now. Corruption is prevailing in the party on a large-scale. Corrupt persons are getting protection on a large-scale. Politics have become a medium of business… Rather we can say the party has become an ‘adda’ of political traders,” Singh alleged.

“I have lost faith in the functioning of the party. The issues which I have been raising in the House… for a long time have been neglected. There is a difference between the words and actions of the BJP. I felt I would not be able to raise those issues being in the party,” he said.

On March 15, 2018 Singh was nominated to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh. Singh has held key party positions like state BJP general secretary, secretary, vice president. He was also the chairman of Vindhya Development Board in 2011. His tenure in the Upper House ends on April 2.

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His followers said Singh was “close to former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan” and had “bagged the Rajya Sabha seat following the former CM’s backing”.

However, under the new dispensation, led by CM Mohan Yadav, Singh was “unable to fetch a Lok Sabha ticket and had high hopes of getting it till the last minute.”

Going into damage control mode, the state BJP hit back. Madhya Pradesh Deputy CM Rajendra Shukla said, “He is a very senior leader and has worked for the organisation. Before taking this decision he should have thought about it.”

However, Sidhi region has been witness to rebellion in the past as well. In the Assembly elections, former BJP MLA Kedarnath Shukla had resigned from the party and contested against BJP candidate Riti Pathak, who was picked in his place. Pathak, who is now Sidhi MLA, said Singh’s “departure from the party is saddening and highly unfortunate.”

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“The BJP is pained by his departure. I cannot tell under what circumstances he decided to leave the party, but his decision is not in line with the loyal BJP workers,” Pathak said.

“What has the BJP not given him over the years during his political career? After being made the youth wing’s state general secretary, he became a minister and general secretary of the state BJP. He was given a ticket from a winning seat twice. After that, he was made a Rajya Sabha MP. Besides all this, the party gave him so much respect beyond his imagination. I cannot understand what has hurt him. His resignation or separating himself from the party indicates there must have been some personal issue or ambition in his mind somewhere,” she said.

Pathak said that Singh’s decision to severe ties with the party come at a time when “under the guidance of a nationalist leadership, the party is advancing towards a grand ritual of nation-building and well-being of the world”. It raises questions, she said, if someone “leaves the party because their personal desires are unfulfilled and abandons such a leadership that has dedicated everything to the service of Mother India”.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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