Just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens to conserve fuel and adopt austerity measures amid global tensions, several BJP leaders in Madhya Pradesh came under scrutiny for reportedly travelling in massive vehicle convoys that caused severe traffic congestion across Bhopal and nearby regions. 

The situation got aggravated after the newly appointed Madhya Pradesh Textbook Corporation chairman, Saubhagya Singh Thakur, drove from Ujjain to Bhopal, accompanied by an estimated 200 vehicles. The procession reportedly caused massive traffic snarls across many parts of the city, leaving office-goers, school children, the elderly, commuters and others stranded for long hours in the blazing sun.

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Big traffic bottlenecks were reported around the state BJP office, DB Mall, Board office square and near Arera Hills as the convoy passed through the capital. The pictures of the procession also led to widespread criticism on social media, raising questions about the stark contrast between the call from the Centre for saving fuel and large political rallies across the state.

The issue did not remain limited to Bhopal. In Shivpuri, MLA Pritam Singh Lodhi reportedly arrived with another massive convoy during a temple-related programme, while Khandwa minister-in-charge Dharmendra Lodhi also faced questions over travelling with a large fleet of vehicles and sirens during an official visit.

Reacting to the criticism, Dharmendra Lodhi admitted the contradiction and said, “The Prime Minister's appeal must be adhered to. I have also issued directives to the collector in this regard. Currently, there are many vehicles in my entourage; however, there is no justification for driving such a large number of vehicles together.”

BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal, meanwhile, said the party remained committed to PM Modi’s appeal for reduced petrol and diesel consumption. “The Prime Minister's appeal is bound to have an impact. Today, our leaders have taken the initiative by travelling in e-rickshaws,” NDTV quoted Khandelwal. He also urged party workers and citizens to use public transport and alternative travel methods whenever possible.

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He further added, “We are making concerted efforts to reduce our import dependency and to ensure that the usage of diesel and petrol remains limited.”

Despite these statements, criticism continued to grow as symbolic appearances by some BJP leaders in e-rickshaws and e-scooters were overshadowed by the scale of the convoys seen across the state.