New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Congress working president Jitu Patwari has made a surprising statement against his own party. In a video that has gone viral, the close aide of party chief Rahul Gandhi can be heard saying to voters, “Aap mere khayal, party gayi tel lene, meri izzat ka khyal rakho (You just take care of me. Dump the party, you just take care of my reputation)”.

Patwari is an MLA from Rau assembly constituency and was made Congress working president in April for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. Madhya Pradesh will conduct assembly elections on November 28.

In the video, Patwari is seen doing a ‘Jan Sampark’ campaign where he is going to the homes of voters in his constituency and seeking their support. He is heard in the video telling the people to vote for him while disregarding the party.

This incident hints at trouble that is already brewing for the grand old party. Recently, P Chidambaram said that Congress never insisted on Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate. 

Earlier, Salman Khurshid, senior party leader, had said that it would be difficult for the Congress to win the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on its own. 

Patwari’s video raises questions about the people of Madhya Pradesh being hesitant to vote for the Congress.