The Congress emerged as the single largest party in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, now discussions are underway over who will be the next Chief Minister. Congress sources say the top contenders for the post are Kamal Nath.
Earlier in the day, both Jyotiraditya Scindia and Nath had handed the Congress’ letter staking claim to government formation to Governor Anandiben Patel.
Congress chief in Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath spearheaded the party’s campaign in the state along with party’s campaign committee head Jyotiraditya Scindia. When Kamal Nath was named the Congress chief in Madhya Pradesh in April 2018 ahead of the Assembly polls, many in the party recalled that former prime minister Indira Gandhi described him as her “third son” who helped her take on the Morarji Desai-led regime in 1979.
The senior-most member in the 16th Lok Sabha, Nath was given the task in April to revive the fortunes of the opposition Congress in Madhya Pradesh, where the party had been out of power since 2003. When Nath was chosen by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi as the state chief, the MP Congress unit was riddled with factionalism.
Nath made efforts to bring together senior party leaders – former MP chief minister Digvijaya Singh, Scindia and Suresh Pachouri – well aware that groupism may have had a role in keeping the party out of power for the last 15 years. He ensured that regional satraps got representation in the allotment of tickets.
