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CM in audience, Indore BJP mayor’s son makes fiery speech on govt ‘failures’

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav called for a ‘big round of applause’ for Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava’s son, Sanghamitra, saying he spoke on the topic he was given. The Congress hailed Sanghamitra’s speech, with Digvijaya Singh describing him as an ‘impressive speaker’.

“When he was given the topic of the Opposition, he spoke. There is no prohibition in that, but I will definitely make some corrections in his topics…,” Yadav said. (Credit: X/@DrMohanYadav51)

At the Devi Ahilya University auditorium in Indore, Sanghamitra Bhargava, the son of Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava, did not hold back when he took the role of the Opposition during a debate competition. He launched a pointed attack on the central government’s policies in the presence of not just his father, a BJP leader, but also Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

Choosing the bullet train project as his first target, he said, “Crores of rupees have been spent, there have been scams in land acquisition, but the bullet train couldn’t move beyond the government’s PowerPoint presentation.”

The speech was praised by Congress leaders, including former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, who described Sanghamitra as an “impressive speaker” in a social media post.

The moment was thick with tension when CM Mohan Yadav took the microphone later at the event. Instead of bristling, he appeared to embrace the candour. Calling for a big round of applause for Sanghamitra. Yadav said he had spoken “fearlessly” on the subject given to him.

The mayor’s son, in his speech, did not stop with the bullet train. He moved to the much-publicised “Kavach” technology, advertised as a safety shield for rail travel. Despite this, he argued, more than 20,000 people have died in rail accidents in the past decade. “When a train derails, not only do the coaches break, but a mother’s lap becomes empty, a child’s future sinks into darkness, and an old father’s last hope is snatched away.”

He reminded the government of its promise to transform 400 railway stations into modern, airport-like facilities. “Only 20 have been developed,” he said.

His father, Pushyamitra Bhargava, is a lawyer-turned-politician who has already earned a reputation as a disciplined, reliable face of the party. As mayor, Bhargava has leaned heavily on Indore’s reputation as “India’s cleanest city”, championing civic projects, digital governance, and smart city schemes. To his supporters, he is a moderniser and urban manager.

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When his son’s fiery speech was later put to Pushyamitra, he dismissed any suggestion of controversy. “These were his own views. He spoke both for and against. The organisers rewarded him for his performance. The Congress, as always, mistakes sports for politics and politics for sports,” he said.

Chief Minister Yadav also sought to extinguish any sparks of controversy, saying, “I will give a big round of applause to my nephew (Sanghmitra)… The way he has put forth his views fearlessly…”

“When he was given the topic of the Opposition, he spoke. There is no prohibition in that, but I will definitely make some corrections in his topics…,” Yadav said.

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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