Digvijaya Singh held ‘Bhadas Sammelan’ during his tenure:Leaders used to freely criticize CM and ministers; Congress to hold training camp in Pachmarhi after 27 years

The Congress party is set to organize a 10-day training camp in Pachmarhi, reviving its long-standing tradition of internal introspection after nearly 27 years. The camp, starting November 2, will bring together all 71 district presidents of the Madhya Pradesh Congress and senior leaders from across the country. Experts to train district presidents on key issues During the camp, district presidents will undergo extensive training on a variety of topics such as party organization, IT, media, and social media strategies. Experts from different departments, including the Congress Training Department, will conduct the sessions.
Party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi are expected to participate and interact with state leaders. The 1998 Pachmarhi camp: A historic precedent The last major Congress brainstorming session in Pachmarhi was held in September 1998. The three-day camp, organized from September 4 to 6, saw the participation of around 250 senior Congress leaders from across India. The event was inaugurated by then Congress president Sonia Gandhi and is remembered as a key ideological retreat for the party. When Digvijaya Singh held ‘Bhadass Sammelan’ During his tenure as Chief Minister, Digvijaya Singh used to organize an annual “Bhadass Sammelan” — literally, a “venting session.”
In these meetings, ministers and senior leaders would freely express their grievances, even directly to the Chief Minister. “If someone raised an issue against a minister, that minister had to respond. If it was against me, I had to answer too,” Digvijaya Singh once explained.
The sessions served as a rare platform for open dialogue and internal feedback within the party. Training venue: Hotel highland in Pachmarhi The upcoming training camp will be held at Hotel Highland, where strict entry rules will be enforced. Only authorized participants will be allowed access. Even drivers, personal assistants, and security personnel of district presidents will not be permitted inside. Accommodation and Security arrangements The Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee has booked around 70 rooms across three hotels — with 40 rooms reserved at Hotel Highland.
Each room will accommodate district presidents from two districts. Additional rooms have been booked in nearby hotels to house the organizing team and trainers. Rahul Gandhi and Kharge to stay at PWD guest house For brief rest and meetings, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge are expected to use the PWD Rest House in Pachmarhi.
Earlier this week, MPCC chief Jitu Patwari inspected the guest house along with local Congress leaders to review arrangements. Helipads prepared for senior leaders The administration has prepared three helipads in Pachmarhi for the arrival of senior leaders. Kharge, Gandhi, and other top figures are expected to land at Bhopal Airport and travel to Pachmarhi via helicopter. Morning yoga and exercise routine Each day at the camp will begin with yoga and exercise sessions. A dedicated yoga hall and open gym have been set up at the venue for district presidents. Rahul Gandhi likely to arrive after Bihar polls The first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections is scheduled for November 6. Rahul Gandhi is expected to join the Pachmarhi camp after the polling — between November 8 and 11, according to party sources. Performance review of district presidents During the training camp, the performance of all 71 district presidents is likely to be reviewed on three major parameters: ​