Kamal Nath beats ’84 ghost, becomes Madhya Pradesh CM

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 13

Veteran Congress man Kamal Nath on Thursday beat the ghost of 1984 anti-Sikh riots and became Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh after the party leadership cleared his name.

In a tweet congratulating Kamal Nath, Congress said "an era of change is upon Madhya Pradesh with Kamal Nath at helm".

Our best wishes to Shri for being elected CM of Madhya Pradesh. An era of change is upon MP with him at the helm.

— Congress (@INCIndia)

The announcement was made after a Congress Legislature Party meet in Bhopal where former state CM Digvijay Singh and Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia were present in a show of unity.

Nath, 72, has been nine-time Lok Sabha MP from Chhindwara and was backed by all MLAs and factions of the state.

The decision to name him was taken this evening after Congress president Rahul Gandhi met him and Scindia in Delhi and posted a happy picture of the trio posing hand in hand.

Earlier today, the Akali Dal and BJP had warned the Congress against naming Nath. Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa told The Tribune tonight that the Akali Dal will agitate nationally at the move. He alleged the role of Nath in the killing of two Sikhs in Rakabganj Gurdwara after the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi and asked “what was Nath doing at Gurdwara that day?”

Meanwhile, Rajasthan decision remains pending with state chief Sachin Pilot still being engaged on the issue.

Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot remains the favourite of all factions to lead the state but Gandhi wants to iron our state differences before making a formal announcement of the decision.

The announcement on Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh CMs is expected tomorrow as Gandhi again met Pilot tonight.

Earlier today Pilot’s supporters agitated violently demanding their leader to be chosen CM.

Pilot had to issue an appeal for calm.