A political storm has erupted in the Madhya Pradesh’s Seoni district as former BJP MLA Rakesh Singh Pal is accused of breaking protocol while opening a recently built bridge, angering the opposition and local officials.
The former legislator reportedly arrived at the bridge site with party workers and supporters and on his own cut the ribbon before formal inauguration by the administration was scheduled. Social media soon began to spread the videos of the event, with fans chanting slogans and rejoicing at the occasion’s beginning. The footage caused a great deal of discussion, some wondering if there were any other government processes that were being ignored.
This happened in Keolari Assembly constituency where local Congress MLA Rajneesh Singh sharply criticized the move. Singh claimed that the area’s Member of Parliament and district administration have not been informed about this event. He pointed out that it was against protocol and charged the former MLA with trying to “take political credit for a public infrastructure project”.
The Congress leader has reportedly lodged a formal complaint with the district collector for an investigation. He also asked how an inauguration could be held without the notification and permission of the appropriate authorities.
The controversy has now generated discussion about the politics of ‘credit-taking’ and ‘protocol’ in public works projects. Backers of the former MLA have justified the event, whereas those who had criticized elected representatives and party leaders for interfering with government-funded development projects are questioning the same.
The incident is still under discussion in political and administrative circles in the region, but district authorities have not given a detailed reply yet.