M.P. BJP leader loses post over large convoy despite PM’s austerity appeal

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday (May 14, 2026) removed an office bearer of its farmers’ wing in Madhya Pradesh after he celebrated his appointment with a large number of cars in his convoy, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the countrymen to save fuel amid the West Asia crisis.

Sajjan Singh Yadav had recently been appointed the Bhind district president of BJP’s Kisan Morcha and returned home with much fanfare, leading to traffic woes in the region. Multiple videos showing his convoy, comprising mostly SUVs with banners of his appointment causing traffic congestions, sparked outrage on the social media on May 13.

In a letter dated May 14, Kisan Morcha’s State unit chief Jaipal Chavda said that Mr. Yadav’s appointment has been cancelled on directions of M.P. BJP chief Hemant Khandelwal.

“It has been learned through newspapers and social media that yesterday, on May 13, 2026, a Kisan Morcha rally was organised under your leadership, with a convoy of hundreds of vehicles from Gwalior to Bhind. This action of yours is a disregard of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for energy conservation,” the letter read. 

Mr. Chavda said, “The State [unit] organisation has taken this action of yours seriously and considered it as indiscipline. Therefore, as per the instructions of State president Hemant Khandelwal ji, the appointment of Sajjan Singh Yadav, district president, Kisan Morcha, Bhind, is cancelled.”

The Prime Minister, on May 10, made an appeal to people for the rational use of fuel-powered vehicles, along with various other measures to help the country deal with global economic uncertainties, supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures amid the West Asian crisis.

Not a lone incident

Various other ruling party leaders have also been seen flaunting their strength with massive convoys and celebrations. 

Earlier on May 11, just a day after Mr. Modi’s clarion call, BJP leader Soubhagya Singh travelled from Ujjain to Bhopal with hundreds of cars to assume his charge as the new chairperson of Madhya Pradesh Textbook Corporation.

BJP MLA Pritam Lodhi, who was recently facing flak for threatening an IPS officer probing his son’s hit-and-run case, was also seen travelling with a large convoy, as per videos on the internet and local reports.  

Over the week, however, various senior BJP leaders in the State, including Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, have also followed Mr. Modi in significantly reducing in their convoy sizes while some were also seen travelling by public transport.

The Opposition Congress launched attacks on the ruling party, saying BJP leaders “themselves tore Mr. Modi’s appeal to shreds”.

“On one hand, Narendra Modi lectures the country on using less petrol-diesel, and on the other hand, leaders from his own party tear his appeal to shreds. This shows that Narendra Modi expects all the sacrifices from the public alone while the people in power can just enjoy themselves,” the Congress said on X, reacting to Mr. Saubhagya Singh’s convoy video.