Amid swirling speculation surrounding the potential switch of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and prominent Congress leader Kamal Nath, he addressed reporters on Sunday, asserting that he had not engaged in discussions with anyone regarding such a move.
"I stated yesterday that should any developments arise, I will promptly notify the media. To date, however, I have not initiated any conversations," Kamal Nath emphasized.
These remarks followed his response on Saturday to rumors circulating about him and his son Nakul potentially transitioning to the BJP. On that occasion, Kamal Nath had assured reporters that he would inform them of any significant developments. He also cautioned media personnel against becoming overly excited.
When pressed by a reporter about whether he was explicitly denying the possibility of a switch, Kamal Nath clarified, "It's not a matter of denial; rather, it's your interpretation. While there may be heightened anticipation on your part, I remain composed. Whether on this side or that, my stance remains unchanged. However, should any such eventuality materialize, you would be the first to know."
Speculation regarding Kamal Nath's purported shift gained momentum after his former media advisor and BJP spokesperson Narendra Saluja shared a photograph of the veteran leader and his son in Bhopal, captioned with "Jai Shri Ram."
Meanwhile, Nakul Nath, serving as a Congress Member of Parliament from Chhindwara, made alterations to his social media profile, removing references to the Congress party.
Despite these developments, Congress leaders from Madhya Pradesh sought to downplay the conjecture, citing Kamal Nath's longstanding association with the party. Jitu Patwari, the Madhya Pradesh Congress chief, evoked the enduring bond between Kamal Nath and the Nehru-Gandhi family, recalling how former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had fondly referred to him as her "third son."
Patwari emphasized, "Can you even imagine the third son of Indira Ji (Gandhi) defecting to the BJP?"
Echoing these sentiments, Kamal Nath's colleague and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh dismissed the rumors as mere fabrications of the media. Singh underscored Kamal Nath's deep-rooted ties with the Nehru-Gandhi family, asserting that he could never contemplate leaving the Congress fold.
Reports suggest that Kamal Nath's dissatisfaction stems from not securing a Rajya Sabha berth, compounded by purported friction with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi following the party's defeat in the late last year's assembly polls.
Kamal Nath had been replaced as the Madhya Pradesh unit chief of the Congress following the party's resounding loss in the assembly elections, wherein the BJP secured 163 out of 230 seats, relegating the Congress to a mere 66 seats.
