Cong confronting a tougher choice in Rajasthan
(Agencies)
New Delhi, Dec 13
Congress leader Kamal Nath has been chosen as the next chief minister of Madhya Pradesh after a day of meetings in Delhi during which party boss Rahul Gandhi reportedly persuaded Jyotiraditya Scindia to fall in line. After a two-hour meeting, Rahul Gandhi said it with his cryptic tweet of a photo with the two leaders, all smiles.
The Congress, then, directly confirmed it on Twitter. “Our best wishes to Shri @OfficeOfKNath for being elected CM of Madhya Pradesh. An era of change is upon MP with him at the helm. (sic)” the party tweeted.
Thanking Jyotiraditya Scindia for supporting him, 72-year-old Kamal Nath in a statement said this was a milestone for him.
“The chief ministerial post is a milestone for me. On December 13, Indira Gandhi had visited Chhindwara and handed me over to the public. I would like to thank Jyotiraditya Scindia for supporting me. I have worked with his father. That is why I am happy that he supported my selection,” Kamal Nath's statement said.
The chief minister-elect says he will meet Governor Anandiben Patel tomorrow morning and decide on the date for his oath-taking ceremony.
Kamal Nath was a shoo-in for the post after he led the Congress to a narrow victory in the state election and ended the BJP's dream-run in the key heartland state. The Congress emerged as the largest party but touched majority only with support from Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia reportedly also held separate meetings with Rahul Gandhi, where UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also present.
Later, tweeting the same photo that his party president put out, Mr Scindia commented: “It is not a race, it is not about kursi (chair), we are here to serve the people of Madhya Pradesh. I am leaving for Bhopal and you will get to know the decision (on chief minister) today.”
Kamal Nath enjoyed the backing of a large section of legislators, though Mr Scindia argued that he had greater popular support. When NDTV asked him yesterday whether he would like to be chief minister, the 47-year-old replied: “Absolutely, I would be honoured to serve as chief minister.”
But Kamal Nath had apparently already slipped into the role as he talked about the top priorities of the new Congress government on Tuesday evening. “We have to create a new environment of trust in Madhya Pradesh,” he told reporters. Reminded about the farm loan waiver promised by the Congress within 10 days of taking power, he also said: “Let the government be formed first.”
Rahul Gandhi's audio message to 2.4 lakh Congress workers on Wednesday, urging them to reveal to him their choice of chief minister in complete confidence, reflected the party's challenging task in the three states it won – Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
This morning, before negotiations with two sets of leaders angling for the top job, Rahul Gandhi had told reporters at parliament: “Of course, you have to see a chief minister soon.”
