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There is an open conflict between Brijmohan Agrawal, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Raipur MP, and his party’s government in Chhattisgarh over an upcoming Bharat Scouts and Guides (BSG) event. The dispute is headed for a courtroom showdown, with Mr. Agrawal challenging his removal as the ex officio State president of the BSG before the High Court.
At the centre of the disagreement is the National Rover-Ranger Jamboree of the Chhattisgarh Bharat Scouts and Guides, which is expected to draw about 15,000 participants from across the country and abroad.
However, the event has been overshadowed by a tussle between Mr. Agrawal and Gajendra Yadav, a first-time MLA and a recently inducted Cabinet Minister in the Vishnu Deo Sai government, over who holds the post of State president of the Bharat Scouts and Guides.
The confrontation dates back to December 13, 2025, when an official order issued by the School Education Department stated that Mr. Yadav had been nominated as the ex officio president of the State BSG. Mr. Agrawal has contended that he was elected to the post and that, as per the rule book, a president should hold office for five years or for the duration of the State council.
On January 6, Mr. Agrawal issued a press release announcing that the jamboree had been postponed “keeping in view the continuously emerging administrative disputes and allegations of serious financial irregularities”. The final paragraph of the release stated, “It is noteworthy that MP Shri Brijmohan Agarwal is currently the State President of Bharat Scouts and Guides, Chhattisgarh and he has not resigned from his post”.
The following day, Mr. Agrawal moved the Chhattisgarh High Court, documenting his objections. His counsel, Kishor Bhaduri, said that a writ petition filed by his client against the government had termed the State’s action of removing a president appointed “under the law by the central body with consultation of the Chief Minister and other ministers” as illegal.
“Also, the funds which were transferred to the local State body for having a ceremony at a particular place in a particular fashion… that amount has been entrusted without calling a tender. The process has been initiated, things have been moved, and the amount has been entrusted with the block education officer in his account for disbursement. You are shifting the venue as well,” Mr. Bhaduri added.
Despite these objections, the State government issued an official note on Thursday stating that the event would be held in Balod between January 9 and 13.
The situation prompted the Opposition Congress to allege “factionalism within the ruling party, and corruption”.
“The Bharat Scouts and Guides jamboree in Balod has become a hotbed of factionalism within the BJP. BJP members are fighting among themselves to take credit for the jamboree and to share the corruption involved. The jamboree was originally scheduled to be held in Nava Raipur, the capital, but the Education Minister has moved it to Balod. Brijmohan is claiming to be the president, while Education Minister Gajendra Yadav is calling himself the president. The government should clarify who the president of the Scouts and Guides is,” said Congress spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla.
The Congress also submitted a complaint to the State Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Economic Offences Wing alleging corruption.
Mr. Yadav was unavailable for comment. In an earlier interaction with journalists, he dismissed the allegations of corruption and irregularities, describing them as attempts to defame the government.
On late Thursday evening after returning from Delhi, Mr. Agrawal said that he had informed the seniors in his party and government that his removal was illegal and that he would go to court against it.
Published – January 08, 2026 10:17 pm IST
