Madhya Pradesh Election Results: As BJP dominates Congress, is it curtains for Kamal Nath?

Is it curtains for Kamal Nath? That’s what many are wondering after the BJP’s massive victory in Madhya Pradesh. The saffron party is leading in a whopping 167 seats compared to the Congress’ 62 as per the latest trends from the Election Commission of India. The magic mark in the 230-seat Madhya Pradesh Assembly is 116 seats. Nath, the 77-year-old state Congress chief, will get cold comfort from the fact that he has a massive lead in his home seat of Chhindwara over the BJP’s Vivek Bunty Sahu. He is currently in a war room meeting with senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh. So, is the end near for Nath? Let’s take a closer look: The Congress under Nath had formed the government in Madhya Pradesh in 2018. However, the Nath government collapsed in March 2020. This, after Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP and nearly two dozen MLAs resigned – leading to the BJP’s Shivraj Singh Chouhan returning as chief minister. As per a piece in News18, Nath had launched a sentimental appeal to the Madhya Pradesh public ahead of the polls. “What was my fault? Why did they bring down my government?” Nath asked in November at an election rally. The article said that the Congress going down to the BJP in Madhya Pradesh was a sign that voters did not agree to give Nath one last go as chief minister. “This time, those close to Nath said people would take revenge on Scindia. However, this card also did not work as the BJP has performed impressively in the Gwalior-Chambal region, which is Scindia’s stronghold,” the piece stated. The article also stated that despite Nath’s jibes at Chouhan about waking up to the plight of women before the polls, women seemed to trust the incumbent chief minister more. The piece noted how Nath enlisted both Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi to campaign in Madhya Pradesh. [caption id=“attachment_13394982” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Kamal Nath and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. PTI[/caption] “…however, all failed in face of the popular ‘Ladli Behana’ scheme of Chouhan. Kamal Nath had been the Chhindwara MP since 1980 and became an MLA in 2019 from the assembly seat of Chhindwara to become CM. But his dream to be a CM of Madhya Pradesh for a full term will in all probability remain a dream,” the piece concluded. As per NDTV, Nath had earlier Sunday expressed confidence that the Congress would win Madhya Pradesh. “I have full faith in the people of Madhya Pradesh that they will keep their future secure,” Nath was quoted as saying by ANI. But Nath’s confidence was misplaced.

An article in Deccan Herald said Nath appeared “out of tune and out of touch with reality.”

“The BJP’s victory over the Congress has meant that Nath failed to get the act together despite getting a carte blanche from the party’s high command. Questions will be asked about the way Nath and former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh were given full charge of the state,” the piece argued. The piece, calling the election Nath’s ‘swansong’, argued that the way Nath rejected Akhilesh Yadav’s request for seats in Madhya Pradesh – despite the Samajwadi Party being an important part of the INDIA bloc – indicated that he was not up to scratch. The piece also said that Nath was unable to switch a partnership with the Gondwana Ganatantra Party and Left outfits. Another piece in _Deccan Herald n_oted that Nath is 77 and Digvijaya Singh is 76. “…the party may be forced to look for a new generation in leadership at a time it is no secret that behind the duo’s public bonhomie lies intense intrigue to control the party in the state where both were Chief Ministers,” the piece stated.

Even some in the party are blistering Nath. “It was one-upmanship. Arrogance of one leader led to this. We could have won the state,” a senior state Congress leader told  the newspaper. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday gave credit for it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s poll campaign and said people have immense faith in him. Chouhan credits PM Modi, ‘double-engine’ Chouhan also said they have properly implemented welfare schemes of the “double engine” government (of BJP at the Centre and in the state). Double-engine is a term used by the BJP for its governments at the Centre and state level, which party leaders claim brings about development due to better synergy. “Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is in the hearts of the people of Madhya Pradesh. The state is also in the heart of Modi ji. There is immense faith towards him. He held public meetings here and appealed to the people which has touched the people’s hearts. Such trends are coming as a result of this,” Chouhan said. He also said the election campaign got the right direction due to the “infalliable strategy” of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, guidance of BJP chief JP Nadda and other leaders and hard work of the party workers. The MP government implemented schemes like the Ladli Lakshmi and Ladli Behna and works have been done for the welfare of farmers, poor people and youth, which also touched the people’s heart, the CM said. “I had said the BJP will get a comfortable majority and we are getting it,” Chouhan said. With inputs from agencies