The launch of Chhattisgarh's first-ever national Rover-Ranger Jamboree, a major youth event for the Scouts and Guides, has been completely overshadowed by a bitter and public power struggle within the state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The event, intended to foster discipline and camaraderie among young people, has instead become a battleground for two senior BJP leaders.
The Core of the Controversy: A Leadership Dispute
The conflict centers on who rightfully leads the Chhattisgarh state council of the Bharat Scouts and Guides (BSG). The dispute erupted on December 13 when the state's school education department issued a press note naming the current School Education Minister, Gajendra Yadav, as the ex-officio president of the BSG state association. This move effectively removed Lok Sabha MP Brijmohan Agrawal from the position of working president.
Agrawal, arguing that he was elected for a five-year term, has strongly contested this decision. He filed a petition in the Chhattisgarh High Court, challenging his removal. His core argument is that an elected office-bearer cannot be replaced by a simple departmental order. "I was elected for a five-year term," Agrawal stated, "the government cannot simply replace an elected office-bearer by departmental order."
Allegations of Irregularities and a Shift in Venue
The confrontation intensified with several allegations from Agrawal's camp. A key point of contention was the sudden shift of the jamboree venue from the state capital, Nava Raipur, to Balod district, a much smaller location. Agrawal claimed this was done without the consent of the BSG state council.
Furthermore, serious financial irregularities were alleged. Agrawal's side claimed that funds sanctioned for the event, approximately Rs 10 crore, were routed to the Balod District Education Officer instead of the official BSG account. Citing these issues, along with alleged problems in the tender process, Agrawal announced the postponement of the jamboree, calling it an attack on the autonomy of the Scouts and Guides institution. Consequently, he has stayed away from the national event, which is being held from January 9 to 13.
Political Reactions and the Official Stance
The opposition Congress party swiftly capitalized on the visible rift within the BJP. They have alleged factionalism and corruption in the jamboree's preparations and have filed a formal complaint with the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau and Economic Offences Wing.
In response, Minister Gajendra Yadav has dismissed all accusations. He told the media that all purchases for the event were made transparently through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal and labeled the allegations as politically motivated attempts to damage Chhattisgarh's reputation.
The national leadership of the Bharat Scouts and Guides has weighed in on the procedural aspect. Anil Jain, the national president of BSG, clarified that the presidency in Chhattisgarh is governed by the state's own system. "When Brijmohan Agrawal was the education minister, he was the ex-officio president. Now Gajendra Yadav is the education minister, so he is the ex-officio president. This is the state's provision," Jain explained. He added that while Agrawal is free to approach the court, there were no financial irregularities related to the Jamboree itself.
This very public feud is widely seen as an extension of ongoing tensions between Brijmohan Agrawal and the current state BJP leadership. What was planned as a prestigious national youth event has now become a stark display of internal party conflict, casting a long shadow over the Chhattisgarh Scouts and Guides Jamboree.
