Congress veteran Kamal Nath, son in Delhi amid speculation over BJP switch

Aditi Tandon

New Delhi, February 17

Congress veteran Kamal Nath and son Nakul Nath arrived in the national capital on Saturday with talks of their BJP forays gaining ground.

Although Kamal Nath, 77, remained non-committal on the issue, BJP sources did not rule out a possible switch over of the former Congressman. They said his son Nakul Nath, a sitting MP from Chhindwara, was sure to come to the BJP.

Can Indira’s 3rd son leave Cong: Digvijay

Former Madhya Pradesh CM and Kamal Nath’s party colleague Digvijay Singh called talks of Nath’s BJP slant a media creation. “Indira Gandhi had introduced Kamal Nath as her third son while addressing a public meeting for him in Chhindwara when he contested the seat for the first time in 1980. Can anyone dream of Indiraji’s third son quitting the Congress?” asked Digvijay

“Wait and watch,” said a senior BJP leader when asked if there was truth to the ongoing speculation.

The possibilities of a switch over were fuelled further as Nakul Nath, ahead of Delhi arrival, removed any reference to the Congress from his X bio. Father and son also cut short their Chhindwara tour to come to Delhi.

Kamal Nath and Nakul are learnt to have discussed the issue of a possible BJP joining with their supporters in Chhindwara. All seven sitting MLAs from Chhindwara LS seat are Kamal Nath loyalists and may come to the BJP should their leader so decide.

Nakul meanwhile unilaterally announced his candidature from Chhindwara Lok Sabha segment last week without waiting for a signal from the Congress. Among factors said to be pushing Kamal Nath away from the Congress are the party blaming him entirely for the MP election rout; replacing him as state unit chief with Rahul Gandhi loyalist Jitu Patwari and now ignoring his claim to Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh.

Sources further point to a deeply fractious relationship between Kamal Nath and his Congress colleague Digvijay Singh, who is said to be building up son Jai Vardhan as the next CM hopeful.

“In the given scenario, it is natural for a father to worry about his son’s future,” said a source even though Kamal Nath today told reporters, “Why are you all getting excited. I will inform you first if something happens.”

Born in a Kanpur Brahmin business family, Kamal Nath first contested from Chhindwara in 1980 at late Indira Gandhi’s insistence and has since controlled the tribal segment despite being an outsider to MP.