Bhopal: Battling attempts to prevent the BJP from bringing down his government, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath is now facing a rebellion from within as at least five ministers, three of them loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia, have demanded that the latter be appointed as the state Congress chief.
Scindia had unsuccessfully vied for the chief minister’s post when the Congress formed the government last December but has now turned on the heat when Nath is trying to stave off threats from the BJP to destabilise his government. The chief minister is also the state Congress president.
The first to bat for Scindia was his loyalist Imarti Devi, the Women and Child Development Minister, who Sunday told the media that he was an energetic leader and that Congress president Rahul Gandhi should offer “him a bigger responsibility”. Something like giving him command of the state, Devi told the media.
She was among a group of ministers who were interacting with the media after a Congress Legislative Party meeting, called by Nath Sunday, in which he had sought and got the support of all 114 Congress MLAs.
A section of the ministers, however, used the press interaction to push Scindia’s case. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar, another Scindia loyalist at the interaction, seconded Devi. “I’m not saying this because I am a supporter of Scindiaji but Congress workers across the state want a young and energetic leader to lead them and the party,” he said.
The two were backed by Animal Husbandry Minister Lakhan Singh Yadav, another Scindia loyalist.
If that wasn’t enough, two more ministers joined the bandwagon. Higher Education and Sports Minister Jeetu Patwari, said to be in the Rahul Gandhi camp, and Forest Minister Umang Singhar too demanded that a young and energetic leader like Scindia be made the state Congress chief.
“Scindia is best suited for the post of state Congress president presently, particularly because he is a young and charismatic leader, and also has a vision for the future,” Patwari said.
For the chief minister, the dissent could not have come at a worse time as he is battling to keep his government afloat after the Congress’ drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections where it won just one of the 29 seats. To make matters worse, the Congress trailed in 211 of the 230 assembly segments in the state, getting washed out in 96 segments that are represented by its MLAs.
Also read: Nehru is back as Kamal Nath begins to undo ‘saffronisation’ at top journalism school
The BJP threat
The Congress has 114 MLAs in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, two short of the majority. At Sunday’s meeting, Nath was assured the support of all 114 MLAs and that of the Congress’ coalition partners in the state — two BSP MLAs, one SP MLA and four Independents.
But ever since it lost ground in Madhya Pradesh in the November 2018 Assembly elections, the BJP has been snapping at heels of the Congress, at least vocally.
On 11 January, BJP national general secretary and state in-charge of West Bengal Kailash Vijayvargiya had remarked that the day the BJP central leadership sneezes, the party would be back in power in Madhya Pradesh.
On 19 May, ahead of Lok Sabha counting day, Vijayvargiya said he had doubts if the Nath government “would survive 22 days after Lok Sabha results are out”.
On 23 May, counting day, Vijayvargiya refused to address the issue. But a day earlier, when exit polls predicted a return of the NDA government, Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava shot off a letter to the Governor to convene a special session of the state assembly to discuss “burning and immediate” issues.
In his letter, Bhargava claimed several Congress leaders were “unhappy and ready to cross over”, which would reduce the Nath government to a minority. But his own partymen stepped in to stop his efforts. State BJP president Rakesh Singh said Bhargava had only urged the Governor for an assembly session to discuss public issues and did not a floor test.
The Congress government took the opportunity to hit back. Nath claimed that at least 10 Congress legislators were being lured by money and posts by the BJP top brass. “At least 10 MLAs told me that they are getting phone calls and are being lured by money and posts,” Nath had said on 22 May
On Monday, Nath once again expressed confidence on his legislators.
“I have proved majority in the House four times in the last five months and I am ready for floor test again,” he told reporters in Sidhi district. “All the MLAs supporting the government have attended yesterday’s Congress Legislative Party meeting. Even if the Opposition insists, we are ready for the floor test.”
Amid the chorus within the BJP, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the BJP will not do anything to topple the government. “The BJP will not do anything to unseat Nath government. But we cannot do anything if the government falls under its own weight,” Chouhan has told the media.
Also read: Voters send Congress dynasts packing, from Jyotiraditya Scindia to Milind Deora
When abject loyalty alone is the criterion for ‘appointment’ of CMs (NOTE: NOT, election, but ‘Appointment’ by the HIGH Command, in MP, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh), this is a natural fallout. But Congress NEVER learns from its bitter lessons and grinds on, doing ONLY what the ‘Family’ wants.
This is the problem with the Congress party. They put up co rrupt and morally decade nt so-called leaders like Kamal Nath for CM; then some other fellow starts to pull him down. This happens because the top national leadership is weak, and itself lacks credibility. Kamal Nath is trying to prop up his son (just elected to the Lok Sabha, reportedly the richest MP with declared assets of Rs 600 Crores …. how does a young fellow with no independent business or professional record accumulate Rs 600 Crores….. brazen corruption). Kamal Nath’s son, Scindia, Rahul – all are top examples of privileged offspring who have had power thrust upon them, power that they cannot handle and which enjoys no legitimacy in the eyes of the people.
Not a time for small heartedness. Arguing over table settings when the house is on fire. Sachin Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia are as far apart as cheese and chalk. One rebuilt his party machine – in the shadow of national adversity – in the state, clawing back power in by-elections, leading to the final outcome. The other has lost from his pocket borough. These are the outpourings of factional strife that will sprout like weeds if the Congress President abdicates. Pagdi sambhaal Jatta …