According to sources, there could be a significant setback looming for the Congress party in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, as there are indications that former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and his son Nakul might be contemplating a switch to the BJP.
Adding fuel to these speculations, Kamal Nath arrived in Delhi on Saturday, thereby heightening the anticipation surrounding his potential political move. However, when directly asked about the prospect of joining the BJP, Nath remained circumspect, stating, "If any such decision were to materialize, I would certainly inform you first."
Pressed further about his stance, Nath emphasized, "It's not about affirming or denying; you're the ones creating this buzz. I'm maintaining a composed demeanor, regardless of the direction I might lean towards. However, rest assured, should there be any developments, you would be the first to know."
Earlier in the day, speculation regarding Kamal Nath's potential defection gained traction following a social media post by his former media advisor and BJP spokesperson Narendra Saluja, who shared a photo of the ex-Chief Minister and his son from Bhopal, accompanied by the caption, "Jai Shri Ram".
Meanwhile, Nakul Nath, the sitting Congress MP from Chhindwara, took a notable step by removing the reference to 'Congress' from his profile bio on X, further fueling conjecture regarding the family's political realignment.
Reacting to these developments, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh revealed that he had conversed with Kamal Nath the previous night, expressing incredulity at the notion of Nath severing ties with the Nehru-Gandhi legacy. "How could we even entertain the thought?" he remarked.
In a parallel development, Sajjan Singh Verma, a Congress MLA hailing from Sonkatch in Madhya Pradesh, purportedly removed the party's emblem from his social media profiles. Verma, known for his unwavering support for Kamal Nath, is seen as a key ally within the state's political landscape.
Meanwhile, insider sources within the Congress divulged to India Today TV that Kamal Nath is contemplating a departure, fueled by his purported dissatisfaction over being denied a Rajya Sabha nomination. The party's leadership's perceived efforts to accommodate Nath have apparently fallen short of expectations, with the blame for the collapse of the Madhya Pradesh government being attributed to his obstinance.
However, Jitu Patwari, the Madhya Pradesh Congress chief, dismissed these rumors as "baseless", citing Kamal Nath's longstanding association with the party, dating back to the 1970s. Patwari recalled the close bond between Kamal Nath and the late Sanjay Gandhi during their formative years at Dehradun's Doon School, emphasizing the deep-rooted ties within the Congress fold.
Furthermore, Patwari refuted claims of Kamal Nath's disgruntlement over the Rajya Sabha ticket issue, asserting that it was Nath himself who proposed Ashok Singh's nomination. Singh, the state party treasurer, subsequently filed his candidature for the polls, showcasing internal harmony within the party ranks.
Patwari, who succeeded Kamal Nath as the Madhya Pradesh Congress chief following the party's underwhelming performance in the recent state Assembly elections, reiterated his confidence in Kamal Nath's unwavering loyalty to the Congress ethos, dismissing any notions of defection as mere conjecture.
