In a surprising development from the heart of Madhya Pradesh politics, Congress MLA Hemant Katare has stepped down as the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the state assembly. The Ater legislator cited mounting family responsibilities and his inability to devote sufficient time to his constituency as the primary reasons for his decision.
Katare formally submitted his resignation to key party figures including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee chief Jitu Patwari, and Opposition Leader Umang Singhar. This move comes at a time when the opposition is gearing up to intensify its scrutiny on the ruling government’s performance.
Party organization general secretary Dr. Sanjay Kamle confirmed the resignation, emphasizing that Katare’s personal constraints in the current scenario made it challenging for him to fulfill the demanding role effectively. Importantly, Kamle clarified that this resignation is limited strictly to the deputy leader position and does not affect Katare’s primary membership in the Congress party.
“He has been, is, and will continue to remain fully loyal to the Congress party,” Kamle asserted, quelling any speculation about internal discord.
The final decision on accepting the resignation rests with state Congress president Jitu Patwari and the party’s central leadership. Katare, son of former Opposition Leader Satyadev Katare, has long been a prominent face of Congress in the Gwalior-Chambal region.
Elected from Ater in the 2023 assembly elections, Katare was swiftly elevated to the deputy leader position alongside Umang Singhar, symbolizing a generational shift in the opposition’s leadership. During his tenure, he actively participated in assembly debates, raising critical issues such as the contamination of water supply in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area and demanding ministerial resignations over various public grievances.
This resignation unfolds against the backdrop of recent assembly sessions marked by fierce opposition protests, walkouts, and criticisms of administrative failures. No immediate replacement for the deputy leader post has been announced, with party sources indicating that leadership will deliberate on the matter in the coming days.
Officials within the party describe this as purely a personal decision by Katare, with no connection to any internal party conflicts. Notably, Katare attended the assembly session until 4 PM on Friday before tendering his resignation – a day that also marks his wedding anniversary.