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Inside story of how Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi forced Jyotiraditya Scindia to dump Congress

Jyotiraditya Scindia, former Guna MP who has been with Congress for 18 years, quit party Tuesday saying this path has been drawing itself out over past year.

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New Delhi: Jyotiraditya Scindia is likely to become a Cabinet minister in the NDA government at the Centre and his nominee will become a deputy chief minister if the BJP manages to form the government in Madhya Pradesh, Scindia’s friends and close associates have told ThePrint.

They said Scindia had been “exploring” the option of joining the BJP for the past “two months” and the Congress high command’s prevarication over his nomination to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh was only the immediate trigger. He is set to enter the Rajya Sabha as a BJP leader now.

Chief Minister Kamal Nath, whose government is now teetering on the brink of collapse due to the impending defections of at least 22-25 Congress MLAs of the Scindia camp, didn’t help matters much.

Kamal Nath refused to reach out to Scindia and virtually kept him isolated — and even stalled the latter’s claim for the post of the state Congress chief. So much so, that senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, never known as a Scindia sympathiser, sought to convince the CM last month of the need to co-opt the young leader but Kamal Nath didn’t pay any heed, a senior Congress functionary said.

A businessperson had organised a dinner for these three leaders — Scindia, Nath and Singh — at her Delhi home last year to bring about a rapprochement. Scindia had then complained that even his recommendations for transfer of officials were being rejected. Kamal Nath was dismissive. The dinner meeting only brought more chill in their relationship.


Also read: 18 Scindia loyalist MLAs camping at Bengaluru resort as the leader quits Congress


In touch with BJP

Last week, Digvijaya Singh went to town accusing the BJP of trying to topple the party-led government. Under full media glare, he and his minister son managed to “save” the government by ‘retrieving’ eight of the 10 MLAs who had been brought to Gurugram by the BJP in preparation for the toppling of Kamal Nath government. While the Congress brass hailed Singh’s rescue act, Scindia remained in touch with the BJP.

At BJP president J.P. Nadda’s son’s reception in New Delhi on 6 March, former MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan briefed party colleagues about the developments, including Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Narendra Singh Tomar and Dharmendra Pradhan, among others. They left the venue together for further deliberations. Three days later, on Monday evening, Home Minister Amit Shah gave his seal of approval, clearing the deck for Scindia’s entry.

Upset with Sonia and Rahul

“It’s not just about Kamal Nath. Scindia has been upset with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi — not just because of the way they allowed him to be undermined in the party but also because he saw the Congress going nowhere under their leadership,” a Congress leader close to Scindia told ThePrint.

Scindia met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah Tuesday to formalise the terms and conditions of his entry into the BJP. A scion of the erstwhile Gwalior royalty, Scindia is no stranger to BJP leaders. His grandmother Vijayaraje Scindia had cut her political teeth in the Congress and spent a decade in the party before joining the Jana Sangh, the BJP’s precursor. Jyotiraditya Scindia spent 18 years in the Congress before shifting his loyalty to the BJP Tuesday. His father, Madhavrao Scindia, had started his political career in the Jana Sangh but had switched to the Congress later.

In his resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi on Monday, Scindia said, “This is the path that has been drawing itself out over the last one year.”

The path, in fact, started drawing itself out about 14 months ago, to be precise. Ahead of the MP assembly election, then Congress president Rahul Gandhi had assured him that he would be under consideration for chief ministership after the polls. As it turned out, the high command opted for Kamal Nath over Scindia, a move many young leaders in the party privately attributed to Sonia Gandhi’s reluctance to make a young leader CM who might outshine her son and emerge as his challenger.

That was exactly why, these young leaders said, Sonia kept the post of deputy leader of the Lok Sabha vacant for two years after 2017 even though Scindia was keen on it.

Rahul Gandhi had offered deputy chief ministership to Scindia after the assembly poll results were out in December 2018. Scindia declined but said he would nominate someone for the deputy’s post. Rahul Gandhi then said that in that case Kamal Nath would also nominate his second deputy.

The CM had the last laugh as Scindia gave up. He was later appointed Congress general secretary in-charge of western Uttar Pradesh — a punishment posting, in bureaucratic terms, as the party has no base there.

After he resigned, following the party’s dismal show in the Lok Sabha elections, the high command made no move to pacify him. Instead, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, general secretary in-charge of eastern UP, took over making party appointments across the state, without even bothering to consult Scindia.

Scindia was also upset with the party’s stance on many issues. “One day, he called up a young colleague, asking how could the party criticise the government’s move to nullify Article 370? He found the party’s criticism nonsensical. Both agreed to speak out publicly then,” said a Congress functionary, concluding that Jyotiraditya Scindia quit because he saw “no hope for the party or for himself in it”.


Also read: How BJP tapped Jyotiraditya Scindia’s isolation in Congress to make him quit the party


 

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158 COMMENTS

  1. I am not sure if the Gandhis realize it is not just loss of Scindia but could have chain effect that could spiral out of control for the party.

    • Better late than never!! I just think the decision should have been coming much sooner!! All this should have played out during the Congress government with all the corruption involved then. Anyway for the good of the unity of India, it is about time!! Now hopefully the other states will also introspect soon and dump those violence loving leaders and move on to discussion and debate!!

  2. Well done Sciendiaji. Young and brilliant leaders like you who are undisputedly responsible for delivering victories to the party are ignored and cunning old leaders snatch away the fruits of victory. Well this should be a fitting lesson for every party. Beware you senior leaders and it’s high time for you to make room for the younger generation to run the states at brisk pace.

  3. Congress should take out all senior citizens members and give chance to young blood like scindhia Sachin Pilot ect…

  4. Just wait for some time. The same will happen in BJP. I believe the BJP is going to make the same mistake which the congress did. Appointing a so called prince of atlantium. These people have no concept of India only to rule people and call themselves rulers. Soon they will try to resurface and then bjp will be shredded. Its a time bomb ticking.
    See foe your self. They wont let you be educated, not provide you with any facility and make you beg them for food and basic necessity and then yyou will end up giving your soul to them like a dog at their feets.
    Good luck bip.

  5. Mr prince jyoti is not only political leader but followed by entire Maratha community, he has tremendous love n affection from maharashtra too ,nowcongress in Maharashtra has to face worst possible time in future as they have been ruining Maharashtrian since last many decades ,sharad pawar too has victims of Congress top leadership, now maharashtra will take revenge of prince jotiraditya, now wait n watch further development,coz Maratha has heart.

  6. Those who are from Congress or left when joins BJP ….it basically proves that they don’t have any ideological base, it is just a matter of how get hold of power. Or the Congress party has lost its own ideological base to tie the cadre together

  7. Indian National Congress’s lack of touch with the ground level workers’ of different states is the only reason for its downhill. Previously in W.Bengal also the party thrown away Mamata Banerjee out to be doomed. People are still like the INC but it is due to the not choosing of the right popular person for different reasons is the cause of disenchantment and subsequent fall from power.Hope the Party will cosider these things in the coming future.

  8. Perfect said , article.
    But Scindia shouldn’t join Bjp , a party he has fought on its principles for majority of his political life.
    He should make his own party and do a kejriwal

  9. Illiterate Sonia’and drug addicts rahul have no love for India
    They are out to destroy our nation and bring ISIS of Iraq taking advantage of democracy

  10. Congress should give its all major party’s authority to who are from different families and regions not like concentrating only on same family members.

  11. I think in these times one needs to be very scientific to see correct perspective. One that if JS has better opportunity to serve state and country he should be allowed to do so, however Congress too should have given him opportunity or he should have created one for himself. Politics too should be done with some professionalism. Futher Since he has moved away it is no longer his or anybody’s prerogative to see and comment how party will run except party worker and leadership. As most of us are quite judgemental and appears knowing better politics than those who does it, it may be partially true though…My last point on Rahul and Sonia. No body can outshine anybody as everyone has a role to play in any organisation like Congress, are you not trying to suggest without the credentials or taking consent of other politicians. Also lot of time we say dynastic politics but all these young politicians are sons or daughters of political families..I think in intrest of everyone we should adopt a fair way to find solutions. I think better people should come forward in politics

    • Absolutely correct words ur stateslast stanse.india wants needs a politicion likeMoji.and alsoyoungnot in G Family.Dynossticrulemustberooted for indiasfuturedev.jaihind

    • In Congress no one who is smarter than Rahul will get any good position. You either have to be a plan YES MAN like Aiyyar, Tiwari, Kamalnath, Digvijay and many others or you can also choose to remain common worker with no ambitions. Then the moth son duo will accept that person. Scindia is much much ahead of Rahul in all departments and if the two stand together the defference becomes more pronounced. So best way was to allow him to rot so that he goes out by himself. And yesterday after he resigned Congress expelled him. Can’t be more stupid than this.

    • That is unfair comment. A person like Scindia is miles ahead of Rahul Gandhi, his leader. He is much more intelligent, suave, excellent orator, mature to handle responsibility and above all hard working unlike Rahul who is just plain lazy, goes off for frequent vacations, can’t give a proper speech, whose thoughts are directionless and above all not interested to go through the heat and dust of politics. It is very clear that young leaders like Scindia, Jitin Prasad, Pilot are solid threat to Rahul and the mother son duo know this we’ll. Hence they never allow any better person to helm the party. They want a rubber stamp like MMS which today’s generation young politicians will not concur with. Scindia is just the beginning…more people will follow.

  12. IT’S MUCH BETTER THAT RAHUL DIDN’T STOP AND LET THEM GO. SOON WHEN ALL GO TO BJP AGAIN SAME PROBLEMS WILL BE SURFACING,,, SOME TIME ONE FACE OF COIN IN FRONT, SOME TIME OTHER.

  13. I strongly appreciate Maharaj Scindia’s work and i also think Sachin should also do same scindia is a great leader i am from shivpuri i know his work and people here loves him but we don’t want Gandhi’s like no serious intelligent leader is there except some and i wish they should also leave congress

  14. Firstly people of MP voted for Congress as they wanted JS to be CM. Congress betrayed them and this had to happen one day. But it’s a sad say for democracy because there is practically no pan India opposition left in India and that makes the government just more adamant.

  15. Now when in the Rajasthan the same will be happened in Congress. The same issue is here between Gehlot and Sachin Pilot.

    • It’s already too late. sIndia patiently suffered for a long time putting at stake his own self respect in fact has sacrificed, wasted a larger part of his life for Congress which does not deserve at all

  16. BJP,Pls.limit the quota for Congress migration otherwise all non performing Neths including Pappu may change his mind set to Join BJP.

  17. In Congress today Rahul Gandhi is a very big liability, he doesn’t have leadership qualities, but Sonia Gandhi simply boosting her son to rise , but no use , he misarabully failed in all front , despite in his position as a Congress president.Right the beginning he don’t have clear view on any subject.

    Now Congress trying to project Prianka Vadra , they are thinking it’s a legal right to take over the party at any point of time as per their convenience, but no use ,she is also not capable ,her family involved in land scandals in Himachal. Now in our country this tradition will not be accepted by people no more.

    Congress has to find out the new leader i.e Gandhi family Mukth.

    In Andhra also Sonia & Chidambaram not allowed Jaganmohan Reddy to take the Congress party responsibility, made lot of hurdles by filing false ED cases against jagan . Then he moved out of Congress.

    Today in congress jyothiraj Sindia position made miserable by senior old leaders .

  18. In Congress today Rahul Gandhi is a very big liability, he doesn’t have leadership qualities, but Sonia Gandhi simply boosting her son to rise , but no use , he misarabully failed in all front , despite in his position as a Congress president.Right the beginning he don’t have clear view on any subject.

    Now Congress trying to project Prianka Vadra , they are thinking it’s a legal right to take over the party at any point of time as per their convenience, but no use ,she is also not capable ,her family involved in land scandals in Himachal. Now in our country this tradition will not be accepted by people no more.

    Congress has to find out the new leader i.e Gandhi family Mukth.

    • Stupid analysis. Gandhis are the uniting force in congress. Congress without Gandhis will be scattered & collapsed whose direct advantage will be taken by bjp. If Scindia is people’s favourite leader, bjp would have not ruled in MP for 15 years. Plz understand Scindia was made cabinet minister in UPA 1 & 2. Scindia got national platform & recognition only because of congress. It’s time for Scindia to stand with party & strengthen the party when it’s going through a tough time. Scindia has compromised idiology for the shake of power & position & congress certainly does not deserve such opportunistic leaders. It’s good that congress is getting detoxed. Remember ppl choose & make leaders. No body is above people & party. Scindia has taken a suicidal step. He will pay price for this soon. Very soon he will realise his mistake. He has put his entire political career at stake today. He will become history in future.

      • Well said. JS should have stayed in Congress, who knows he could have become PM. But he lost that chance. Now he will be history

      • No he won’t. BJP appreciates hard work. Scindia put in the hard work and was awarded portfolios in UPA 1 and 2. But that recognition did not continue. In BJP you get a chance to prove yourself. If you prove, you are promoted and you are continued to be promoted till the time you retire. Congress is a family business while BJP has a corporate culture. You work hard you are rewarded. This creates enthusiasm in the workers. Couple that with Right Wing Nationalist Ideology and nothing can stop BJP juggernaut. The states where BJP lost is mainly number juggling. Parties forming alliances with no common minimum program. Their only aim is to topple BJP and Modi. That formula will work only for the short term. The reason being that it is not just toppling a party but also working for the people and solving problems. If you topple just for the sake of enmity against a particular person, party or ideology it won’t get you too far. Yes you will win here or there but that is purely based on ticket/seat management. Not some proper ideology. People are not fools. They will realize that sooner than later. This is why BJP went from being a party of 5 seats to a party with 303 seats. The reason being that BJP never compromised on its Agenda or its ideology as a party. Congress compromised big time. It went from being a Nationalist party to a party that appeases only minorities. A party that was pro-India to a party that doesn’t hesitate one bit in taking a stance against India. All this for what? Short term gains? That is what is the biggest problem with Congress. Since the time the Gandhis came to the helm of Congress party it has been slowly eroding. The erosion fastened only because of entry of Modi. Else the party was in a decline anyways. Modi was a catalyst.

  19. JS just feels entitled because of his ex-royal family. What has he achieved in life except to touch the feet of Shah at a time that Shah is under the shadow for his role in Delhi Carnage.

    • Only a boot licker will hold Shah responsible for Delhi Carnage which was triggered by the radicalised elements amongst the Muslims and we getting ever are getting incited by some non BJP parties to indulge in violence to destabilize the Modi Government.

      • Modi failed to polarise hindu votes through article 370 & CAA/NRC. People of delhi have rejected Modi’s divide & rule communal politics. Police in delhi without permission can enter to Universities to beat the students but same police else where in delhi become inactive in a very serious riots incidents. You know who is controlling delhi police. Delhi riots will have an impact on Hindu voters mind in Bihar as Delhi riots has become the national debate. Plz understand who is playing politics at the cost of human lives & national interest.

      • What a load of hogwash, Mr. Kumar!
        Your statement reeks of privilege and shows no empathy whatsoever.
        Do you have any idea how many people have been murdered in cold blood by taking the name of god?
        You could very well do with a visit to the area, and seeing for yourself what has happened, but then again, your privilege would be telling you that it is not ‘safe’ to go there.
        Some day, you might realise that your continued support of this nonsense has led to destruction of life, decline of communal harmony, and encouragement of blasphemy.
        I hope you will find peace then.

      • Yes.. only a bootlicker may believe that non sense that there was such a big conspiracy to destabilize the central government and yet government didn’t allowed police to take action for 3 days.. not a single bullet was fired by police to prevent rioters. Every sane mind understand that it is not possible without government protection that such violence was allowed in the capital city for 4 days.

  20. Congress still failed to learn anything even after facing continuous debacle in many states. Further, the leaders of the Congress are also still not ready to compromise in the interest of the party and nation. Recently, there was a ray a hope to give tough resistance to the ruling fascist combine. But, the internal squabble itself a big hurdle for the Congress which ultimately creates doubt on the united fight against the centre on crucial issues. The ruling bosses are also only concerned about the Sanadhan throwing the economy into the dust bin. The real concern and hope of citizens and opposition are going to met with great disappointment!

    • You need to go in depth to understand the real problems. Congress is on the right track. it’s bjp who is more interested to topple congress governments in the states. This is something not new for the nation. So far Scindia is concerned, congress has taken the right step. Scindia always wants to be in power which is not possible. He should stand with the party to strengthen the party when party is going through a tough time that is the real definition of a true leader. Congress is fighting against BJP’s decisive & communal politics & Scindia should stand with congress. In stead Scindia compromised with its ideology for the shake of power. He will get the price for his mistake very soon.

  21. Party not important only country safe is important.so mr sindhia ji decision is very good.now India is utilized.young leaders.

  22. As per my view Congress leader mainly Gandhi parivar opposed unnecessary of government policy and some leader of congress does not like that and they feel suffocating into party and they want to free. And in future more resignation will come.

    • Congress is on right track. It’s an ideological war with BJP. Congress needs a straunch leaders who stick to congress to support congress in its ideological war against bjp. Scindia compromised with ideology because he wants to be in power always. It’s good that Scindia quitted congress. Congress is getting detoxed.

  23. All oldies eg Ahmad Patel Gulam Nabi Azad, Digvijay Singh Ashok Gehlot and Sonia Gandhi, and many more so called. veterans should be replaced by more energetic and pragmatic people. Scindhia should not have been allowed to resign. It is a big failure of Gandhi’s and Kamal Nath.

    • If Scindia was the people’s favourite leader, bjp would have not won MP for three consecutive terms, say 15 years. Scindia was made cabinet minister in UPA 1 & 2. He was made national general secretary and got the national platform. 8 of Scindia’s followers were given Minister birth in MP Government. What else Scindia wanted ? It’s Scindia who is at fault. Good that he quitted congress. Remember who ever has joined bjp, they all have become dummy. I am sure Scindia will realise his mistake very soon. But Scindia has lost all the respect & credit while toppling govt in MP. It was the verdict given by people of MP. Very soon Scindia will pay price for this suicidal mistake.

  24. Even if Congress chose to ignore Scindia. What did Scindia himself do? Afterall, he lost Guna, which is indicative of the fact that he did not do well in his own constituency.

    • The moral of the story is Scindia quitting congress will not make any big impact on congress. It’s not good to be over ambitious in politics. Sometimes leaders gets the best reward for their loyalty towards party. Scindia will never thrive & be successful in BJP. He has put his entire political career at stake. He lost all the respects & credit in party. He sent his resignation letter but congress expelled him from the party that shows he has lost all the respect & credibility in party.

  25. Young blood like Deora, sachin pilot and scindia should have been given responsibility of leading congress long time back. To challenge a strong leader like modi requires an opposition of strength ,vision and grassroots experience. Rahul has none. During crisis he is cooling his heels abroad. To lead India one should go down to the villages and then only elections can be won. Speeches should come from the heart and not from scribbled notes.

  26. Why bother ? INC has Sibal, Chidambaram, Antony, Motilal Vora,Ahmaed Patel,AbhishekSingvi etc. If they are AUCTIONED, like Vijay Mallya’s Kingfisher brand……the “kabbadiwala” will give good per kg rate !!

  27. Very soon Congress will be like small regional party like AIADMK or like BSP. The top leaders of this party, will leave everything and will settle down in some good place in Italy

  28. I see Sciendia as a very good person. He was always reminded alongside the pappu, defending him in all pappu acts. He kept his own reputation on stake by doing it. Like shield taking the blows to defend that useless gandhi. I was always wonsering why the real royal blood is doing this for a shameless like pappu. Joining BJP or not is one thing but getting away from fools is right thing to do. It’s late bit its better than never.

  29. I see Sciendia as a very good person. He was always reminded alongside the pappu, defending him in all pappu acts. He kept his own reputation on stake by doing it. Like shield taking the blows to defend that useless gandhi. I was always wonsering why the real royal blood is doing this for a shameless like pappu. Joining BJP or not is one thing but getting away from fools is right thing to do. It’s late bit its better than never.

  30. ALL ABOVE COMMENTS ARE FROM BJP GOONDAS AND PAID BHAKT. OF MODI. THESE COMMENTS ONLY SHOW THAT. THEY ARE CONGRESS HATERS

    • Yes,These paid bhakts febricating a false world about stupid and Inhumanitarian politicians,Scindia was part of royal family but now fascist family having only power in hand of 4-5 persons

      • Leave this Scindia, kamalnath stuff aside and focus on urgent issue
        Get your documents, 2 self attested photocopies and recent passport size photo.
        NRC is on the way

    • Congress is a party of Traitors, be it MK Gandhi or Nehru Family. Nathuram Godse showed the right place to Gandhi. Now that WhatsApp has united Hindus , Traitors , liberals, Pakistan loving religion will be shown their place.

  31. I WISH SACHIN DO THE SAME.. COUNTRY NEEDS SUCH FRESH MINDS.. THEY ARE USELESS AS LONG AS THEY ARE IN GANDI LED CONGRESS.

  32. JS wants power through MP Cong President, RS seat or Dy. CM. But JS has made the cardinal sin by resigning. He can only be a pawn in power politics if he joins BJP as only PM or HM sycophants can survive in BJP. However, Congress fate is set to be doomed if Gandhi’s remain at helm of affairs any longer.

  33. JS wanted power through one of the three posts i.e MP Cong President, RS seat or Dy. CM. Though Congress was ready to concede some ground, JS has made the cardinal sin by resigning. He can only be a pawn in power politics if he joins BJP as only PM or HM sycophants can survive in BJP. However, Congress fate is set to be doomed if Gandhi’s remain at helm of affairs any longer.

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