Bhopal- The Madhya Pradesh Congress organization continues to fail in adhering to the political slogan given by Rahul Gandhi—"Jiski jitni sankhya bhaari, uski utni hissedaari" (Representation proportional to population). The latest example is the recently announced list of spokespersons by the state Congress, which lacks the essence of social justice and caste representation.

On May 5, Mukesh Nayak, head of the Congress media department, released a list of 53 spokespersons on the instructions of state president Jitu Patwari. The list clearly shows the dominance of upper castes, while Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and minorities have not received adequate representation.

Dominance of General Category

A closer look reveals that 55% of the selected spokespersons belong to the general category, including 18 Brahmins and 6 Thakurs. In contrast, OBCs—who constitute nearly half of the state’s population—have been allotted only nine positions. Scheduled Castes fare slightly better with seven representatives, while minorities have six. The most shocking omission, however, is the complete absence of Scheduled Tribe (ST) spokespersons, despite tribals making up 21.10% of Madhya Pradesh’s population. This exclusion has drawn sharp criticism, particularly since the Congress has been a vocal advocate for caste census and equitable representation.

Contradiction to Rahul Gandhi’s Social Justice Stand

The list stands in direct contradiction to Rahul Gandhi’s repeated emphasis on social justice and proportional representation. Political analysts argue that such imbalances in the party’s own structure undermine its credibility when demanding similar equity in governance. Senior journalist Ramesh Sharma remarked, "The Congress talks about social justice, but its actions don’t match its rhetoric. How can marginalized communities trust a party that doesn’t practice what it preaches?"

The bias isn’t limited to the main party structure. In the recent Youth Congress elections, only seven out of 59 seats were reserved for SC/ST candidates—a figure grossly disproportionate to their population share. This trend suggests systemic neglect, reducing reservation policies to mere formalities rather than genuine efforts toward inclusion.

The issue goes beyond numbers—it’s about democratic principles and constitutional morality. Denying adequate representation to historically marginalized groups in decision-making roles perpetuates exclusion. If the Congress truly stands for social justice, it must first rectify these disparities within its own ranks. Until then, its slogans risk ringing hollow for the very communities it seeks to empower.