M.P. Minister expresses regret on body-shaming remarks on woman colleague after backlash

Madhya PradeshCabinet Minister and senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Tuesday (September 23, 2026) expressed regret over his recent controversial remarks on the body of a woman party councillor from Indore. 

Mr. Vijayvargiya’s remarks at an event on Sunday (September 20) in the city, in which he jokingly said that the councillor’s width had increased a little, drew sharp criticism from the Congress that termed it an insult to women. He, however, alleged that his remarks were portrayed in the wrong manner by the Congress. 

In a video statement, Mr. Vijayvargiya said, “A lot of development work has been done by her in her ward in my assembly constituency. Whatever I said about her has been presented in the wrong manner by the Congress people.”

“She is like my daughter. This is why neither do I have anything bad in my mind about her, nor does she. But she and I are both upset by the way the Congress people have presented this, and the media has also reported it. I express my regrets in this matter,” the Minister from Indore said. 

At a local event on Sunday (September 20), Mr. Vijayvargiya praised the development work by the woman councillor. However, in what appeared to be light banter, he said he could not see a party leader on the stage sitting near the woman councillor. 

“Mahendra ji, I could not see you. Oh you were there near her. Her width has also increased a little,” he said, laughing. 

The Madhya Pradesh Congress slammed him and the ruling BJP over his remarks on Monday.

“The BJP, which talks of respecting women, when will it listen to its leaders’ statements? BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya’s alleged controversial statements regarding women — A girl who wears fewer clothes looks beautiful. Didi’s width has increased,” the party said on X. 

“Commenting on women’s clothes on their bodies: Is this the BJP leaders’ definition of respect for women?” the Opposition party asked. 

Mr. Vijayvargiya’s remarks have courted political stir in the State’s politics time and again, including his use of objectionable words in a heated exchange with a reporter in the midst of the water contamination tragedy in Indore’s Bhagirathpura in December, 2025. He later expressed regret for his remarks.

He has also faced backlash for his remarks on women and their dressing at various occasions. 

In April 2023, He had said that girls who wore “bad dresses looked like Shurpanakha”, a demon character from Ramayana. 

During the State Assembly’s Budget Session in February 2026, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had to intervene following a heated argument between Mr. Vijayvargiya and Congress’ Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar.