Discord continues to roil MP BJP: Scindia lieutenant drives back to Cong in ‘1,200-car convoy’

For the past few months, tensions have been mounting between Scindia camp and BJP old guard; Samandar Patel third aide of Union Minister to quit in as many months

Patel led a “1,200-car convoy” while travelling from his constituency Jawad to Bhopal to submit his resignation papers at the BJP office. (Source: @AnshumanSail/X)

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Madhya Pradesh MLA Samandar Patel who followed Jyotiraditya Scindia to the BJP in 2020 and brought down the Kamal Nath-led Congress government returned to the Congress on Friday, alleging “suffocation” in the ruling party.

Patel led a “1,200-car convoy” while travelling from his constituency Jawad to Bhopal to submit his resignation papers at the BJP office. Patel is the third Scindia loyalist in as many months to have gone back to the Congress and that too in a similar style — with a show of strength using massive car rallies.

Massive boost for Congress and set back for BJP in Madhya Pradesh as close Scindia confidante Sh. Samandar Patel on the way to Bhopal to join congress party.

Sh. Patel alongwith his 5000 supporters are coming from over 1200 vehicles to show his strength and join congress. pic.twitter.com/2lezg0Vnxg

— Anshuman Sail Nehru (@AnshumanSail) August 18, 2023

On June 14, Shivpuri BJP leader Baijnath Singh Yadav cut ties with Scindia and organised a 700-car rally. Former BJP Shivpuri district vice president Rakesh Kumar Gupta followed suit on June 26, also organising a car rally.

“I left the party with Maharaj (Scindia). But soon, I felt suffocated within the BJP. I was not invited to any events. I was not given respect and a position of power,” Patel told The Indian Express.

Differences within MP BJP

Friday’s move marks Patel’s second return to the Congress. He first quit the Congress in 2018 after being denied a ticket in that year’s Assembly polls. He contested as an Independent that year, cutting into the Congress’s prospects by polling 35,000 votes on his own and paving the way for BJP’s victory. He rejoined the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, leaving it soon after, in March 2020, with Scindia’s group of 22 MLAs.

But trouble started as he joined the ruling party and he got embroiled in a bitter public feud with state Cabinet minister Omprakash Saklecha. “My supporters were constantly humiliated by Sakhlecha’s camp. Multiple false cases were filed against them over petty fights. That was when I decided to leave,” Patel said.

The MLA claimed he did not have a problem with Scindia. “I still have respect for Maharaj ji. He tried to solve my issue personally and also scolded the BJP leaders for feuding with me. But he is a big leader and a Union Minister, he could not always come to my aid.”

Scindia has had to grapple with infighting in the MP BJP unit recently, with tensions mounting between his group of supporters and party old-timers. A leader from the Scindia camp said Patel’s move could be a loss to the BJP. “Patel is a big leader in Neemuch. He was financially strong and supported the party. Scindia was his godfather. He was like Scindia’s lieutenant.”

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Another leader from the Union Minister’s camp said “many more supporters would return to the Congress” soon. “There is no point in talking to these leaders because the BJP is not sorting out its differences with Scindia loyalists. What can we do about it?” After exiting, Patel levelled corruption allegations against Saklesha.

Patel started as the sarpanch of the Limbodi Gram Panchayat, a post he held onto for four consecutive terms from 1994 to 2015. He is from the Dhakad community, which is categorised as Other Backward Class (OBC) and has a 24% vote share in Jawad. He is among the richest leaders in the state, with declared assets of Rs 89 crore in the poll affidavit.

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