Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya commented on a woman BJP councillor’s weight and then joined the audience in mocking her during a groundbreaking ceremony in Indore on Sunday, prompting attacks from Congress leaders.
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.
Referring to Yadav, the minister then remarked: “Sandhya Didi has also put on some 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.
The incident occurred in Assembly Constituency Number 1 at a programme to launch construction projects, including the laying of a Narmada water pipeline. The subject resurfaced in June 2025, when he said he disliked women wearing revealing clothes and refused to be photographed with them. 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.
“Mahendra-ji, I didn’t even see you,” he said, before adding, “Oh, you were sitting behind the councillor. 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.
