Kamal Nath in dilemma over potential BJP switch amid pressure from ED, IT, and CBI
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Amid rumours of senior Congress leader Kamal Nath potentially switching to the BJP, the Congress party is reportedly keeping a close eye on its MLAs who are close to Nath. While Nath finds himself in a dilemma regarding the pressure from the BJP to join the party, certain quarters within the BJP are apprehensive about his induction due to allegations related to his involvement in the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.
The political unrest began when Nath, who had cancelled a five-day tour of his family bastion in Chhindwara, arrived in New Delhi on Saturday. The BJP's Madhya Pradesh president, V D Sharma, warmly welcomed Nath, further fuelling speculation about the senior leader's possible switch.
Congress, on the other hand, has been working tirelessly to keep its MLAs together, especially those with close ties to Nath. The party has reportedly been applying various tactics, including promises of better positions and electoral benefits, to convince Nath's loyalists to stay. Efforts are also being made to contact mayors and district leaders aligned with Nath, fearing that their defection could lead to significant losses in urban bodies.
Sources within the Congress indicate that Nath might be considering sending only his son, Lok Sabha MP Nakul Nath, to join the BJP, rather than making the switch himself. The dilemma, according to insiders, revolves around the uncertainty of how many MLAs close to him would follow suit.
While Congress leaders express confidence that Nath will remain with the party, the pressure from enforcement agencies such as the ED, IT, and CBI is acknowledged. Former chief minister Digvijaya Singh believes that Nath's character is not one to succumb to pressure, but the situation remains tense as Congress leaders continue reaching out to Nath loyalists to prevent any potential exodus.
In a bid to counter the rumours, Congress leaders, including Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari, have publicly asserted Nath's allegiance to the party. Patwari revealed that Nath assured him of his commitment to the Congress and expressed confidence that Nath would remain true to the party's ideals.
As the political landscape in Madhya Pradesh becomes increasingly uncertain, a delegation of Congress leaders has been dispatched from Bhopal to Chhindwara to engage with Nath's loyalists directly. The party is leaving no stone unturned to prevent the worst-case scenario, offering assurances of favourable positions and electoral opportunities to those contemplating a switch.
