Kamal Nath guarded, Congress says won’t quit party for BJP

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 18

Mystery continues to shroud veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath’s future move with no clear picture emerging with regard to the purported joining of the BJP by the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister.

Loyalists in Delhi

At least six Madhya Pradesh MLAs loyal to Kamal Nath reached Delhi from Bhopal on Sunday, further fuelling speculation of him and his MP son Nakul Nath joining the BJP.

Nath, during a brief interaction with the media today, did not categorically deny the possibility of his switch to the saffron party.

Congress leader and former MP minister Sajjan Singh Verma, who met Nath at his residence in Delhi today, said Nath had not made any decision yet on leaving the party.

Verma said on meeting Nath, he found him studying the caste equations in the Lok Sabha constituencies of MP to ensure good performance by the Congress in all 29 seats of the state in the upcoming General Election.

“I talked to Nath. Reports about him leaving the Congress have been created by the media. So he refused to deny anything,” Verma said. Asked whether the party veteran would stay in the Congress, Verma said Nath had not said anything about leaving the party. “Nath has not only political but also family relations with the Gandhis,” he said. MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari on Sunday evening claimed Nath had told him that he was not going anywhere. Nath, a nine-time MP from Chhindwara and currently an MLA, was removed as state chief following Congress’ dismal performance in the November Assembly polls.

The 77-year-old leader arrived in the national capital on Saturday afternoon triggering speculation about a meeting with BJP leaders to be followed by his formal switching over to the saffron party. His son and MP Nakul Nath had dropped Congress from his bio on the social media.

Nath, when asked by the media today whether he was joining the BJP, said: “I told you yesterday that if anything like that happens, I shall immediately inform the media.” Asked if he is in touch with the BJP, Nath said, “I have not spoken to anyone.”

Earlier, party leader and former CM Digvijaya Singh had said: “I am in constant touch with Nath, the party leadership (read Rahul) is also in touch with him. Nath started with the Congress and is known as the third son of Indira Gandhi. He has always stayed with the Congress and has been a pillar of the party. He has served as a minister at the Centre, has been state president and the CM. I don’t think he would leave the party.”

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