3 min readBhopalUpdated: Mar 23, 2026 08:52 PM IST
Madhya Pradesh’s ruling BJP saw internal dissent play out in public on Monday, with Lahar MLA Ambrish Sharma taking aim at the government, accusing officials of inaction, bias and of ignoring both him and his constituency.
The BJP legislator staged a dharna against his own government along with supporters, before eventually calling off the protest. Party sources indicated that the organisation has taken note of the development, and that it may be reviewed at the state level.
The incident reflects a broader pattern of discontent among some BJP MLAs in Madhya Pradesh, who have in recent months publicly flagged concerns over bureaucratic functioning and lack of responsiveness. However, Sharma’s pointed remarks against both officials and the system, coupled with his strong language, mark a significant escalation.
Speaking at a public gathering and later during a protest, Sharma expressed deep frustration with what he described as continued neglect of the Lahar region. “Our own Chief Minister and our party should not treat us like the people of the 230 constituencies. Both the people of the Lahar region and the MLA feel helpless and neglected,” he said.
Going further, he expressed a sense of abandonment among both voters and their representative. “The people and the MLA are now orphans. Both of them are before god and the party. The divide that has been seen in other constituencies can’t happen in Lahar. I request that the Lahar constituency not be subjected to injustice. We are soldiers of the party. We won’t tolerate injustice,” Sharma said.
The MLA’s anger was primarily directed at local officials, whom he accused of failing to act against illegal encroachments and irregularities despite repeated complaints. He alleged that influential individuals were being shielded while action was either delayed or avoided altogether. He also raised concerns about the alleged obstruction faced by Dalit communities and alleged that administrative apathy had allowed such issues to persist.
Escalating his attack, Sharma issued a controversial warning to officials, saying, “The officials should not mistake our patience for weakness. I am a cultured MLA of a cultured party… Tum log toh ek phook ke bhi nai ho, phookenge toh Pakistan mein jaake giroge (You people aren’t even worth a single puff — if I blow, you’ll end up flying all the way to Pakistan).”
