During a groundbreaking ceremony in Indore on Sunday, Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya made headlines for mocking a female BJP councillor’s weight. His comments drew immediate backlash from Congress leaders, who criticized the minister for his insensitivity. The incident has sparked discussions about the treatment of women in politics and the responsibilities of public officials in their remarks.
Vijayvargiya praised local BJP councillor Sandhya Yadav for her work and active involvement in the area. The speech took a controversial turn when he commented on her weight.
The minister also spoke about women having to shoulder responsibilities both at home and outside. Congress leader Bhupendra Gupta questioned the BJP’s claims of upholding women’s dignity, saying its senior leaders should demonstrate that respect in their treatment of the party’s own female representatives. Congress rejected the criticism as an attack on an expression of affection between siblings. Referring to a recent development programme in her ward, attended by Vijayvargiya, MP Shankar Lalwani and other leaders, she urged people not to misinterpret his remarks or pay heed to social media rumours, stressing that their relationship is like that of a father and daughter.
The incident occurred in Assembly Constituency Number 1 at a programme to launch construction projects, including the laying of a Narmada water pipeline. His remarks extended to family relationships in September 2025, when he targeted Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for publicly kissing his sister, MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, linking the gesture to foreign cultural influence.
But his comment on the elected representative’s appearance drew objections from Congress, which said public platforms should not be used to make personal remarks about women’s bodies.
