News Analysis India

Tag: Kamal Nath

  • Speculation mounts as Congress MLAs close to Kamal Nath arrive in Delhi amid rumors of BJP switch

    Around half a dozen Madhya Pradesh MLAs, known for their allegiance to senior Congress leader Kamal Nath, arrived in Delhi on Sunday amid speculation that both Kamal Nath and his MP son Nakul Nath are poised to join the BJP.

    Out of these MLAs, three hail from Chhindwara, with another three from the same region reportedly en route to Delhi, sources close to the seasoned leader told PTI. Kamal Nath, a nine-time MP from Chhindwara and the current MLA from the constituency, faced the removal as the state president of the Congress after the party’s lackluster performance in the November Assembly polls.

    Despite attempts to contact these MLAs, they remained elusive, and it is suggested that Lakhan Ghangoriya, a Nath loyalist and former state minister, is accompanying them in Delhi.Expressing discontent over Kamal Nath’s removal, Deepak Saxena, a former MP minister and Nath loyalist, emphasized the need for the leader to be treated with respect. Saxena asserted that regardless of Nath’s decision, their support would remain unwavering.

    “We want out leader to be accorded all respect. Whatever decision he takes, we will be with him,” Saxena said.

    Another Nath loyalist, former state minister Vikram Verma, wrote ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in his X profile.”I will follow Kamal Nath,” Verma, a former MP, had told reporters on Saturday.Amidst these developments, efforts are underway by the Nath camp to secure the backing of 23 MLAs to avoid the application of anti-defection laws. Currently, the Congress holds 66 seats in the 230-member Assembly of Madhya Pradesh.

    This situation draws parallels with the events of March 2020 when another senior Congress leader, Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with several loyal MLAs, defected to the BJP, resulting in the downfall of the Congress-led government helmed by Kamal Nath. The political landscape in Madhya Pradesh continues to witness dynamic shifts as these political developments unfold.

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  • ‘Tried our best but…’: Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath on seat-sharing with Akhilesh Yadav

    By ANI

    BHOPAL (Madhya Pradesh): Speaking about the failure to arrive at a seat-sharing arrangement with Akhilesh Yadav in Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, state Congress president Kamal Nath on Sunday said that he tried his best but could not convince “his people” about the seats the Samajwadi Party chief was demanding.

    “We talked, we tried our best, our people were not agreeing. Because the question was not how many seats, the question was which seats. We were not able to convince our people on the seats they wanted,” the Congress leader said.

    Nath’s remarks came after Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said that his party extended support to the Congress to form their government in Madhya Pradesh not once but twice.

    “We had one MLA, we were at number two in five seats. At the time when Congress was in need, the Samajwadi Party was the first to support Congress. And the result was that the Congress government was formed in Madhya Pradesh. And even when the need arose again, the Samajwadi Party MLA supported the Congress without any conditions,” Akhilesh Yadav said while speaking to reporters here in Hardoi.

    In the 2018 Madhya Pradesh polls, the SP while contesting 52 seats, won one seat, Bijawar, and finished second on five, securing 1.30 per cent votes.

    Yadav’s party and Congress, among the parties who have vowed to put up a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls under the INDIA umbrella, are now at loggerheads in Madhya Pradesh after the latter didn’t allocate any seat to SP despite talks on seat sharing.

    Earlier on Thursday, Akhilesh Yadav said that, now, he came to know that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance is only confined to the national level and that if Congress behaves like this, who will stand with them?

    “If Congress didn’t want to give seats (in MP), then they should have said it before. Today, SP is fighting only on seats. Now after Madhya Pradesh, I know that the INDIA alliance is for the (parliamentary) elections at the national level. If Congress continues to behave like this, then who will stand with them? If we will fight against the BJP with confusion in our minds, then we won’t succeed,” he had said.

    The BJP, monitoring the development closely, is taking a jibe at both parties saying that they (SP and Congress) have come together to fight at the national level but are wrestling among themselves in the states.

    Madhya Pradesh is scheduled to undergo assembly polls on November 17 and the counting of votes will take place on December 3.  Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    BHOPAL (Madhya Pradesh): Speaking about the failure to arrive at a seat-sharing arrangement with Akhilesh Yadav in Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, state Congress president Kamal Nath on Sunday said that he tried his best but could not convince “his people” about the seats the Samajwadi Party chief was demanding.

    “We talked, we tried our best, our people were not agreeing. Because the question was not how many seats, the question was which seats. We were not able to convince our people on the seats they wanted,” the Congress leader said.

    Nath’s remarks came after Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said that his party extended support to the Congress to form their government in Madhya Pradesh not once but twice.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “We had one MLA, we were at number two in five seats. At the time when Congress was in need, the Samajwadi Party was the first to support Congress. And the result was that the Congress government was formed in Madhya Pradesh. And even when the need arose again, the Samajwadi Party MLA supported the Congress without any conditions,” Akhilesh Yadav said while speaking to reporters here in Hardoi.

    In the 2018 Madhya Pradesh polls, the SP while contesting 52 seats, won one seat, Bijawar, and finished second on five, securing 1.30 per cent votes.

    Yadav’s party and Congress, among the parties who have vowed to put up a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls under the INDIA umbrella, are now at loggerheads in Madhya Pradesh after the latter didn’t allocate any seat to SP despite talks on seat sharing.

    Earlier on Thursday, Akhilesh Yadav said that, now, he came to know that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance is only confined to the national level and that if Congress behaves like this, who will stand with them?

    “If Congress didn’t want to give seats (in MP), then they should have said it before. Today, SP is fighting only on seats. Now after Madhya Pradesh, I know that the INDIA alliance is for the (parliamentary) elections at the national level. If Congress continues to behave like this, then who will stand with them? If we will fight against the BJP with confusion in our minds, then we won’t succeed,” he had said.

    The BJP, monitoring the development closely, is taking a jibe at both parties saying that they (SP and Congress) have come together to fight at the national level but are wrestling among themselves in the states.

    Madhya Pradesh is scheduled to undergo assembly polls on November 17 and the counting of votes will take place on December 3.  Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Congress unveils sops-heavy manifesto for MP polls; pledges caste survey, ‘pitches’ for IPL team 

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: The Congress on Tuesday vowed to conduct a caste survey and announced a bevy of sops, including 27 per cent reservation to the OBCs, a farm loan waiver, Rs 25 lakh medical insurance for all residents and even an IPL team for Madhya Pradesh if voted to power in the state as the party unveiled its manifesto for the November 17 assembly polls.

    Releasing the 106-page manifesto listing 59 promises and 101 “main guarantees” here, state Congress chief Kamal Nath announced to provide LPG cylinders at Rs 500 and to form an Indian Premier League (IPL) team of the state if the opposition party forms a government after the polls.

    कांग्रेस पार्टी ने विधानसभा चुनाव 2023 के लिए आज अपना वचन पत्र जारी किया है। यह वचन पत्र मध्य प्रदेश की जनता के लिए खुशहाली और समृद्धि का संदेश है। हम किसानों को गेहूं का ₹2600 प्रति क्विंटल और धान का ₹2500 प्रति क्विंटल मूल्य देंगे और इसे बढ़ाकर ₹3000 प्रति क्विंटल तक ले… pic.twitter.com/fSPrlCuSBV
    — Kamal Nath (@OfficeOfKNath) October 17, 2023
    In order to bring happiness in the state, the party will start the ‘Khushhali Mission’, Nath said, adding the party’s new slogan is “Congress Aayegi, Khushhali Layegi” (Congress will come and bring happiness).

    The Congress also promised to give an assistance of Rs 1,500 per month to women, farm loan waiver up to Rs 2 lakh, 100 units of free electricity and 200 units at half rate to consumers, free power for 5 HP motor for irrigation purpose to cultivators, waive pending electricity dues of farmers and taking back false cases related to electricity and farm agitations.

    “We will provide health insurance cover of Rs 25 lakh, which also has an accidental cover of Rs 10 lakh, for all the people,” Nath said while releasing the manifesto.

    Nath also promised 27 per cent reservation to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in government jobs and schemes.

    The former state chief minister also announced purchase of wheat at the minimum rate of Rs 2,600 per quintal and paddy at Rs 2,500 per quintal and ensured that the cultivators will get their input costs. He also promised to implement the Old Pension Scheme of 2005 and also announced Rs 2,000 pension for ‘bahu-divyangjans’ (those with multiple disabilities).

    The party will also start the ‘Padho-Padhao Yojna’ under which government school children from classes 1 to 8 will get Rs 500 per month, of classes 9 and 10 will get Rs 1,000 per month and those in classes 11 and 12 will get Rs 1,500 per month.

    The scheme was recently announced by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the state. Nath said the Congress will make school education free in the state. The party will implement the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act in notified tribal areas of the state, he said.

    Focusing on tribal votes, the Congress promised to raise the labour charges of tendu leaf collectors to Rs 4,000 per standard bag. With an aim to consolidate its position among the SC community voters, the party promised to set up the Sant Shiromani Ravidas Kaushal Unnayan (Skill Enhancement) University in Sagar district of the state.

    Notably, the ruling BJP has promised to build a grand memorial of Sant Ravidas in Sagar, and its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few months back.

    मध्यप्रदेश कांग्रेस का युवाओं को वचन…“बढ़ाइये हाथ, फिर कमलनाथ” pic.twitter.com/0naV6Z3WaY
    — MP Congress (@INCMP) October 17, 2023
    With an aim to change the Congress’ image from being a pro-minority minority to one which takes care of all, Nath promised to constitute the Narmada Parikrama Parishad and start Narmada Parikrama Yatra.

    Notably, Congress Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh had gone on the Narmada Parikrama Yatra before the 2018 state assembly polls.

    The party then came to power in the state after a gap of 15 years.

    With a focus on youth comprising a large chunk of the electorate, Nath promised to fill two lakh government posts in the state and also to provide an unemployment allowance, ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 per month for a period of two years, as financial assistance to them.

    The Congress also promised to raise the monthly honorarium to senior journalists in the state to Rs 25,000 per month (from the current Rs 20,000), develop ‘New City’ (colony) in metros for them and provide them health insurance free of cost.

    To encourage sports and sportspersons, the Congress promised to form the Madhya Pradesh Indian Premier League (IPL) team and also promised to give direct government jobs to the Olympic, World Cup, Asiad and Commonwealth Games medal winners.

    The manifesto also promised a slew of measures for all sections of the society including social justice, rural development, right for a home by promising to do registration of 600 sqft of land free of cost.

    Former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, manifesto committee chairman Rajendra Singh and other senior Congress leaders were present on the occasion.

    मध्यप्रदेश कांग्रेस का प्रदेश के प्रत्येक परिवार को वचन…“बढ़ाइये हाथ, फिर कमलनाथ” pic.twitter.com/Ix3NHj97oj
    — MP Congress (@INCMP) October 17, 2023
    The Congress said the manifesto is in the interest of all sections of society and termed it a “blueprint” for the development of Madhya Pradesh.

    The party’s national spokesperson, Charan Singh Sapra, said the Congress will win more than 150 seats (out of 230) in the elections.

    “Our manifesto is very comprehensive and is designed for the welfare of all sections, including villagers, women, youth, and workers. A blueprint for development of the state has been drawn,” he said in Indore.

    The Congress spokesperson alleged “corruption, misgovernance and deceit” marked the rule of BJP under Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

    “The then-Congress government led by Kamal Nath was toppled based on money in (March) 2020. The people of the state will not forgive the BJP and CM Chouhan for forming a government by stealing the mandate,” Sapra added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    BHOPAL: The Congress on Tuesday vowed to conduct a caste survey and announced a bevy of sops, including 27 per cent reservation to the OBCs, a farm loan waiver, Rs 25 lakh medical insurance for all residents and even an IPL team for Madhya Pradesh if voted to power in the state as the party unveiled its manifesto for the November 17 assembly polls.

    Releasing the 106-page manifesto listing 59 promises and 101 “main guarantees” here, state Congress chief Kamal Nath announced to provide LPG cylinders at Rs 500 and to form an Indian Premier League (IPL) team of the state if the opposition party forms a government after the polls.

    कांग्रेस पार्टी ने विधानसभा चुनाव 2023 के लिए आज अपना वचन पत्र जारी किया है। यह वचन पत्र मध्य प्रदेश की जनता के लिए खुशहाली और समृद्धि का संदेश है। हम किसानों को गेहूं का ₹2600 प्रति क्विंटल और धान का ₹2500 प्रति क्विंटल मूल्य देंगे और इसे बढ़ाकर ₹3000 प्रति क्विंटल तक ले… pic.twitter.com/fSPrlCuSBVgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
    — Kamal Nath (@OfficeOfKNath) October 17, 2023
    In order to bring happiness in the state, the party will start the ‘Khushhali Mission’, Nath said, adding the party’s new slogan is “Congress Aayegi, Khushhali Layegi” (Congress will come and bring happiness).

    The Congress also promised to give an assistance of Rs 1,500 per month to women, farm loan waiver up to Rs 2 lakh, 100 units of free electricity and 200 units at half rate to consumers, free power for 5 HP motor for irrigation purpose to cultivators, waive pending electricity dues of farmers and taking back false cases related to electricity and farm agitations.

    “We will provide health insurance cover of Rs 25 lakh, which also has an accidental cover of Rs 10 lakh, for all the people,” Nath said while releasing the manifesto.

    Nath also promised 27 per cent reservation to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in government jobs and schemes.

    The former state chief minister also announced purchase of wheat at the minimum rate of Rs 2,600 per quintal and paddy at Rs 2,500 per quintal and ensured that the cultivators will get their input costs. He also promised to implement the Old Pension Scheme of 2005 and also announced Rs 2,000 pension for ‘bahu-divyangjans’ (those with multiple disabilities).

    The party will also start the ‘Padho-Padhao Yojna’ under which government school children from classes 1 to 8 will get Rs 500 per month, of classes 9 and 10 will get Rs 1,000 per month and those in classes 11 and 12 will get Rs 1,500 per month.

    The scheme was recently announced by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the state. Nath said the Congress will make school education free in the state. The party will implement the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act in notified tribal areas of the state, he said.

    Focusing on tribal votes, the Congress promised to raise the labour charges of tendu leaf collectors to Rs 4,000 per standard bag. With an aim to consolidate its position among the SC community voters, the party promised to set up the Sant Shiromani Ravidas Kaushal Unnayan (Skill Enhancement) University in Sagar district of the state.

    Notably, the ruling BJP has promised to build a grand memorial of Sant Ravidas in Sagar, and its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few months back.

    मध्यप्रदेश कांग्रेस का युवाओं को वचन…
    “बढ़ाइये हाथ, फिर कमलनाथ” pic.twitter.com/0naV6Z3WaY
    — MP Congress (@INCMP) October 17, 2023
    With an aim to change the Congress’ image from being a pro-minority minority to one which takes care of all, Nath promised to constitute the Narmada Parikrama Parishad and start Narmada Parikrama Yatra.

    Notably, Congress Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh had gone on the Narmada Parikrama Yatra before the 2018 state assembly polls.

    The party then came to power in the state after a gap of 15 years.

    With a focus on youth comprising a large chunk of the electorate, Nath promised to fill two lakh government posts in the state and also to provide an unemployment allowance, ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 per month for a period of two years, as financial assistance to them.

    The Congress also promised to raise the monthly honorarium to senior journalists in the state to Rs 25,000 per month (from the current Rs 20,000), develop ‘New City’ (colony) in metros for them and provide them health insurance free of cost.

    To encourage sports and sportspersons, the Congress promised to form the Madhya Pradesh Indian Premier League (IPL) team and also promised to give direct government jobs to the Olympic, World Cup, Asiad and Commonwealth Games medal winners.

    The manifesto also promised a slew of measures for all sections of the society including social justice, rural development, right for a home by promising to do registration of 600 sqft of land free of cost.

    Former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, manifesto committee chairman Rajendra Singh and other senior Congress leaders were present on the occasion.

    मध्यप्रदेश कांग्रेस का प्रदेश के प्रत्येक परिवार को वचन…
    “बढ़ाइये हाथ, फिर कमलनाथ” pic.twitter.com/Ix3NHj97oj
    — MP Congress (@INCMP) October 17, 2023
    The Congress said the manifesto is in the interest of all sections of society and termed it a “blueprint” for the development of Madhya Pradesh.

    The party’s national spokesperson, Charan Singh Sapra, said the Congress will win more than 150 seats (out of 230) in the elections.

    “Our manifesto is very comprehensive and is designed for the welfare of all sections, including villagers, women, youth, and workers. A blueprint for development of the state has been drawn,” he said in Indore.

    The Congress spokesperson alleged “corruption, misgovernance and deceit” marked the rule of BJP under Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

    “The then-Congress government led by Kamal Nath was toppled based on money in (March) 2020. The people of the state will not forgive the BJP and CM Chouhan for forming a government by stealing the mandate,” Sapra added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Congress leaders spar over CM face in Madhya Pradesh polls, Digvijaya backs Kamal Nath

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: Two senior Congress leaders sparred over the choice of Madhya Pradesh unit president Kamal Nath as the party’s chief ministerial face for the state Assembly polls likely to be held at the end of the year.

    The war of words between Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Govind Singh and Nath loyalist MLA Sajjan Singh Verma took place after a meeting on MP poll preparations was held in Delhi on May 29, which was attended by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

    After attending the meeting, Singh had said, “The Congress is a democratic party. It is not the Congress tradition to announce the CM face in advance. The public will elect the MLAs, who will further choose the CM.”

    Hitting back, Verma said, “Govind Singh ji sometimes forgets whether MLAs have elected him as the leader of the opposition? No, he was not elected by MLAs. He was senior so we also agreed on his appointment as leader of opposition.”

    Verma said the people of MP and party leaders want Nath as the state’s CM, adding that Singh should behave the way in which he expects others to do with him.

    “All 22 present (in Rahul Gandhi’s meeting) had accepted Kamal Nath as their leader. This is on record. All leaders accepted that the 2023 polls will be fought under Kamal Nath’s leadership,” Verma asserted.

    Meanwhile, on Sunday, Singh issued a video statement claiming his comment had been wrongly interpreted by the media.

    “It is true all the senior leaders have decided to contest Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls under the leadership of Kamal Nath. I have said several times he is our party’s leader,” he said.

    Singh, however, maintained the chief minister is selected after the elections and in the legislature party.

    Meanwhile, Congress Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh also said party leaders want the polls to be fought under Nath’s leadership.

    BHOPAL: Two senior Congress leaders sparred over the choice of Madhya Pradesh unit president Kamal Nath as the party’s chief ministerial face for the state Assembly polls likely to be held at the end of the year.

    The war of words between Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Govind Singh and Nath loyalist MLA Sajjan Singh Verma took place after a meeting on MP poll preparations was held in Delhi on May 29, which was attended by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

    After attending the meeting, Singh had said, “The Congress is a democratic party. It is not the Congress tradition to announce the CM face in advance. The public will elect the MLAs, who will further choose the CM.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Hitting back, Verma said, “Govind Singh ji sometimes forgets whether MLAs have elected him as the leader of the opposition? No, he was not elected by MLAs. He was senior so we also agreed on his appointment as leader of opposition.”

    Verma said the people of MP and party leaders want Nath as the state’s CM, adding that Singh should behave the way in which he expects others to do with him.

    “All 22 present (in Rahul Gandhi’s meeting) had accepted Kamal Nath as their leader. This is on record. All leaders accepted that the 2023 polls will be fought under Kamal Nath’s leadership,” Verma asserted.

    Meanwhile, on Sunday, Singh issued a video statement claiming his comment had been wrongly interpreted by the media.

    “It is true all the senior leaders have decided to contest Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls under the leadership of Kamal Nath. I have said several times he is our party’s leader,” he said.

    Singh, however, maintained the chief minister is selected after the elections and in the legislature party.

    Meanwhile, Congress Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh also said party leaders want the polls to be fought under Nath’s leadership.

  • Congress leaders from Madhya Pradesh meet Kharge over poll preparedness

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI Top Congress leaders from Madhya Pradesh on Monday met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge at the AICC headquarters here over the preparedness for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

    Sources said the meeting was attended by Rahul Gandhi, former chief minister Kamal Nath, among others.

    Kharge will also hold deliberations with party leaders from Rajasthan where Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot will be in attendance.

    Gehlot has already reached the national capital for the meet. These interactions will be attended by state unit chiefs as well as party in-charges of both the poll-bound states.

    #WATCH | When asked about various “formulae” being speculated around Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, CM Gehlot says, “Never in my life have I seen a tradition in Congress that a leader demands something or high command asks him what post he wants…High Command &… pic.twitter.com/f47AtCYVx7
    — ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2023
    These are also part of the Congress’ efforts to activate party cadres and prepare the ground for the assembly polls slated later this year.

    NEW DELHI Top Congress leaders from Madhya Pradesh on Monday met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge at the AICC headquarters here over the preparedness for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

    Sources said the meeting was attended by Rahul Gandhi, former chief minister Kamal Nath, among others.

    Kharge will also hold deliberations with party leaders from Rajasthan where Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot will be in attendance.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    Gehlot has already reached the national capital for the meet. These interactions will be attended by state unit chiefs as well as party in-charges of both the poll-bound states.

    #WATCH | When asked about various “formulae” being speculated around Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, CM Gehlot says, “Never in my life have I seen a tradition in Congress that a leader demands something or high command asks him what post he wants…High Command &… pic.twitter.com/f47AtCYVx7
    — ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2023
    These are also part of the Congress’ efforts to activate party cadres and prepare the ground for the assembly polls slated later this year.

  • Congress mulls roping in starlets, social media icons for MP assembly polls

    Express News Service

    BHOPAL:  The weakest assembly seats for the Congress may well see the most surprising faces as candidates of the grand old party in the year-end polls in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh.

    According to sources, the party is exploring the possibility of fielding newcomers, including young faces from the film and television world (who may be new to politics, but their families have been sworn Congress ideology backers from generations) on the weakest seats. 

    The new candidates may also include social media icons/influencers and celebrity orators, who have a big fan following. These saffron strongholds on which BJP has been invincible for decades are particularly spread in Malwa-Nimar, Bundelkhand, Vindhya and Central MP regions.

    There are around 66 weak seats, which the Congress has failed to win since the last two to six or eight polls. Such seats, include Govindpura seat of Bhopal which has been BJP’s citadel since 1980, Rehli in Sagar district of Bundelkhand, where the party has been losing to BJP since 1985, Indore-II, Khandwa (BJP winning since 1990), Indore-II and Sagar seats (saffron forts since 1993), Naryawali, Indore-V, Neemuch and Jawad (BJP winning since 2003) and Mandsaur and Narela-Bhopal (won by sitting BJP MLAs since 2008).

    State Congress president Kamal Nath has made it clear multiple times that candidates in the weakest seats would be decided first (six months before polls). Former CM and Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh has been tasked with preparing the party for these seats. He is regularly touring these constituencies and holding open dialogues with party workers there. State Congress sources also claimed that the party may not only finalize candidates first on the 60-odd weak seats but also on 30-40 seats, which are its strongest bets.

    BHOPAL:  The weakest assembly seats for the Congress may well see the most surprising faces as candidates of the grand old party in the year-end polls in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh.

    According to sources, the party is exploring the possibility of fielding newcomers, including young faces from the film and television world (who may be new to politics, but their families have been sworn Congress ideology backers from generations) on the weakest seats. 

    The new candidates may also include social media icons/influencers and celebrity orators, who have a big fan following. These saffron strongholds on which BJP has been invincible for decades are particularly spread in Malwa-Nimar, Bundelkhand, Vindhya and Central MP regions.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    There are around 66 weak seats, which the Congress has failed to win since the last two to six or eight polls. Such seats, include Govindpura seat of Bhopal which has been BJP’s citadel since 1980, Rehli in Sagar district of Bundelkhand, where the party has been losing to BJP since 1985, Indore-II, Khandwa (BJP winning since 1990), Indore-II and Sagar seats (saffron forts since 1993), Naryawali, Indore-V, Neemuch and Jawad (BJP winning since 2003) and Mandsaur and Narela-Bhopal (won by sitting BJP MLAs since 2008).

    State Congress president Kamal Nath has made it clear multiple times that candidates in the weakest seats would be decided first (six months before polls). Former CM and Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh has been tasked with preparing the party for these seats. He is regularly touring these constituencies and holding open dialogues with party workers there. State Congress sources also claimed that the party may not only finalize candidates first on the 60-odd weak seats but also on 30-40 seats, which are its strongest bets.

  • Political blame game: Illegal constructions on stepwell led to Indore temple tragedy, claims Kamal Nath

    By PTI

    INDORE: Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath on Saturday alleged that illegal constructions carried out on the stepwell led to the Indore temple tragedy in which 36 people lost their lives.

    The local civic body did not pull down the unauthorised constructions on the stepwell due to the pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he claimed and threatened to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Madhya Pradesh High Court if these constructions were not removed within seven days.

    Nath, who visited the accident site of Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple in Patel Nagar, said if the Congress is voted to power in the upcoming state Assembly polls, his party-led government would will enact a law for mandatory security audit of public places in the state.

    The Congress leader also visited the private hospital, where those injured in the incident are undergoing treatment, to enquire about their health.

    Thirty-six persons, including 21 women and two children, died after the floor of the temple, built over the stepwell, caved in on Thursday.

    A ‘havan’ (fire ritual) was going on at the place on the occasion of Ram Navami when the mishap occurred.

    After the accident, the administration has closed the main gate of the temple and the route to the stepwell by putting an iron sheet.

    “This incident is a result of illegal constructions done on the stepwell, which has tarnished the image of Indore in the country and the world. If these illegal constructions are not removed within seven days, we will file a PIL in the high court to get them removed,” he told reporters.

    The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister alleged that the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) did not remove the illegal constructions around the stepwell due to political pressure from the ruling BJP.

    “Indore is called a ‘smart city’, but the local administration did not have the necessary equipment to rescue the people who fell into the stepwell after the accident,” he said.

    He said the Army was called in for the rescue operation 12 hours after the mishap, but it was too late by then.

    On Friday, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan paid a visit to the hospital to know the condition of the injured, and also visited the site of the tragedy.

    Talking about it, Nath said CM Chouhan’s visit was just a “show-off” and formality. Chouhan failed to ease the pain of the victims’ relatives, he alleged.

    Nath said that if Congress is voted to power in the state Assembly elections due by the year-end, the government led by his party will enact a law for mandatory security audit of public places in the state and Rapid Rescue Force will be formed to deal with accidents in major cities.

    INDORE: Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath on Saturday alleged that illegal constructions carried out on the stepwell led to the Indore temple tragedy in which 36 people lost their lives.

    The local civic body did not pull down the unauthorised constructions on the stepwell due to the pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he claimed and threatened to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Madhya Pradesh High Court if these constructions were not removed within seven days.

    Nath, who visited the accident site of Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple in Patel Nagar, said if the Congress is voted to power in the upcoming state Assembly polls, his party-led government would will enact a law for mandatory security audit of public places in the state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The Congress leader also visited the private hospital, where those injured in the incident are undergoing treatment, to enquire about their health.

    Thirty-six persons, including 21 women and two children, died after the floor of the temple, built over the stepwell, caved in on Thursday.

    A ‘havan’ (fire ritual) was going on at the place on the occasion of Ram Navami when the mishap occurred.

    After the accident, the administration has closed the main gate of the temple and the route to the stepwell by putting an iron sheet.

    “This incident is a result of illegal constructions done on the stepwell, which has tarnished the image of Indore in the country and the world. If these illegal constructions are not removed within seven days, we will file a PIL in the high court to get them removed,” he told reporters.

    The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister alleged that the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) did not remove the illegal constructions around the stepwell due to political pressure from the ruling BJP.

    “Indore is called a ‘smart city’, but the local administration did not have the necessary equipment to rescue the people who fell into the stepwell after the accident,” he said.

    He said the Army was called in for the rescue operation 12 hours after the mishap, but it was too late by then.

    On Friday, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan paid a visit to the hospital to know the condition of the injured, and also visited the site of the tragedy.

    Talking about it, Nath said CM Chouhan’s visit was just a “show-off” and formality. Chouhan failed to ease the pain of the victims’ relatives, he alleged.

    Nath said that if Congress is voted to power in the state Assembly elections due by the year-end, the government led by his party will enact a law for mandatory security audit of public places in the state and Rapid Rescue Force will be formed to deal with accidents in major cities.

  • Not interested in Cong Prez post: Kamal Nath; steps in to defuse Rajasthan crisis 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Monday ruled himself out as a probable candidate for the party’s presidency even as he stepped in to troubleshoot the ongoing crisis in the party’s Rajasthan unit.

    Kamal Nath, known to have close ties with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence after she held a more than an hour-long meeting with party observers for the state Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken.

    The Congress high command had called Kamal Nath to Delhi.

    He is likely to play the role of a mediator and try to broker a truce in the state unit, which is reeling under a factional feud after a possible leadership change move turned into a full-blown crisis for the party.

    Asked if he was not interested in the post of Congress president, Kamal Nath told reporters, “I have no interest, I have come to Delhi for Navratri.”

    Earlier, Kharge and Maken briefed Gandhi regarding the developments in Rajasthan and will submit a written report about the crisis in the party’s state unit by tonight or tomorrow. They had met the party MLAs in the state to get a sense of the ground situation.

    According to Maken, MLAs loyal to Gehlot have put forth demands, including that a decision on the chief ministerial face should be taken after the party president election on October 19 and in consultation with Gehlot.

    Talking to reporters, AICC in-charge for Rajasthan Maken said the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting was organised with the consent of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, and termed the act of the MLAs loyal to him holding a parallel meeting as “indiscipline”.

    NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Monday ruled himself out as a probable candidate for the party’s presidency even as he stepped in to troubleshoot the ongoing crisis in the party’s Rajasthan unit.

    Kamal Nath, known to have close ties with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence after she held a more than an hour-long meeting with party observers for the state Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken.

    The Congress high command had called Kamal Nath to Delhi.

    He is likely to play the role of a mediator and try to broker a truce in the state unit, which is reeling under a factional feud after a possible leadership change move turned into a full-blown crisis for the party.

    Asked if he was not interested in the post of Congress president, Kamal Nath told reporters, “I have no interest, I have come to Delhi for Navratri.”

    Earlier, Kharge and Maken briefed Gandhi regarding the developments in Rajasthan and will submit a written report about the crisis in the party’s state unit by tonight or tomorrow. They had met the party MLAs in the state to get a sense of the ground situation.

    According to Maken, MLAs loyal to Gehlot have put forth demands, including that a decision on the chief ministerial face should be taken after the party president election on October 19 and in consultation with Gehlot.

    Talking to reporters, AICC in-charge for Rajasthan Maken said the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting was organised with the consent of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, and termed the act of the MLAs loyal to him holding a parallel meeting as “indiscipline”.

  • MP: After Uma Bharti’s swipe at Rahul’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, Kamal Nath asks her to join march

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath on Saturday invited senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Uma Bharti to join his party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which is being led by Rahul Gandhi.

    On Friday, Bharti had claimed the decision on the march was a delayed one and would not benefit Gandhi.

    Queried on this statement, Nath said, “I don’t know why Uma Bharti ji said it was a delayed decision. I am inviting her to join Bharat Jodo Yatra.”

    On another statement of Bharti that those in power must take care of the struggle against inequality that is taking place in Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the country, Nath said he agreed with her.

    “There is need to pay attention to social justice as the country is culturally diverse. People from different social strata have been offering to challenge the BJP on this front and this will grow further till the next election,” Nath asserted.

    Gandhi has undertaken a 3,570-kilometre yatra to connect with people across the country while seeking to strengthen the Congress party, which has suffered successive electoral defeats in the last few years.

    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath on Saturday invited senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Uma Bharti to join his party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which is being led by Rahul Gandhi.

    On Friday, Bharti had claimed the decision on the march was a delayed one and would not benefit Gandhi.

    Queried on this statement, Nath said, “I don’t know why Uma Bharti ji said it was a delayed decision. I am inviting her to join Bharat Jodo Yatra.”

    On another statement of Bharti that those in power must take care of the struggle against inequality that is taking place in Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the country, Nath said he agreed with her.

    “There is need to pay attention to social justice as the country is culturally diverse. People from different social strata have been offering to challenge the BJP on this front and this will grow further till the next election,” Nath asserted.

    Gandhi has undertaken a 3,570-kilometre yatra to connect with people across the country while seeking to strengthen the Congress party, which has suffered successive electoral defeats in the last few years.

  • ‘Congress MLAs not for sale’: Kamal Nath on Maharashtra political crisis

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Amid the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government facing a crisis following the revolt by a section of its MLAs, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Wednesday said his party is united and its MLAs are “not for sale”.

    Nath, who was on Tuesday appointed as the AICC observer in Maharashtra in the wake of the political turmoil in the state, and NCP chief Sharad Pawar are expected to meet Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray around noon.

    The Maharashtra cabinet meeting is also scheduled later in the day.

    The Congress shares power in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena and NCP.

    Talking to reporters on his arrival at the Mumbai-based official residence of Maharashtra Revenue Minister and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Balasaheb Thorat, Nath said, “It is for the Shiv Sena to take care of its team and see how it wants to handle its MLAs.”

    He asserted that the Congress leaders were united.

    “I am sure we will stay intact. It is for the Congress party to demonstrate unity. The Congress MLAs are not for sale,” the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said.

    The CLP holding a meeting at Thorat’s residence on Wednesday.

    On Tuesday evening, 42 out of Congress’s 44 MLAs in the state were present at the meeting called by AICC secretary H K Patil.

    According to the Congress, its senior leader and Maharashtra Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar was abroad on an official trip and is scheduled to reach Mumbai on Wednesday, while MLA Subhash Dhote was also on way to the state capital from Chandrapur.