Citing it as a violation of his and the Congress party’s constitutional and statutory rights, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has challenged in the Supreme Court the Election Commission’s directive banning him from being the star campaigner. However, even if the apex court sets aside the EC’s order, there would be no time left for the status quo to be restored since polling for 28 Assembly seats would be held on Tuesday. Therefore, the primary reason why Kamal Nath has questioned the EC decision is that he does not concur with the body, and believes that there has been an overreach to prevent him from campaigning. The idea is obviously to make a point, since the ongoing elections are extremely significant for determining the course Madhya Pradesh politics would take in the future.
The BJP needs to win only eight of the seats in order to retain power. The Congress, which is seeking to upset the saffron party’s calculations, is determined to dislodge the Shivraj Singh Chauhan government, by aiming at least 21 or 22. This evidently is a tall order, and it is unlikely that the BJP would allow this upset to happen. Nevertheless, the Congress optimism is based on a feeling of discontent amongst BJP cadres, who are upset that the party has provided the Lotus symbol to those who had joined it along with Jyotirditya Scindia. The BJP activists believe that if these defectors win the polls, it would be at the cost of their chances in the subsequent elections. The principal grouse is that despite having served the party for years, they would lose the claim over the seats, if the newcomers were declared the winners.
Being an astute and perceptive leader whose experience of contesting elections as well as micro-management of booths is exemplary, Kamal Nath is busy drawing a wedge within the saffron ranks. He has been attempting to make forays in the Gwalior region in particular, which is said to be the stronghold of the Scindias. However, within the Scindia clan, there is considerable resentment that Jyotirditya was now seeking to upstage his aunts, who like his grandmother were with the BJP from the very beginning. At another level, ambitious leaders within the BJP are also hoping that if the result is not favourable towards their party, Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s days as the CM could be numbered, and the resultant situation could afford them an opportunity. This is what Kamal Nath is wishing to exploit. While he is on his own in these elections with little or no assistance from Digvijaya Singh, the nine-time MP from Chindwara and currently the leader of Opposition in the Assembly is giving the BJP sleepless nights.
Kamal Nath is determined to fight till the end. A close associate of the late Sanjay Gandhi, he still retains his friend’s never-say-die spirit. He was amongst those who had assisted Sanjay in toppling the Janata Party government. Therefore, he has the wherewithal to achieve the impossible. Victory and defeat are a part of the electoral process, but those who stand up and fight, are always remembered. Regardless of the result, Kamal Nath would remain amongst the most formidable Congress leaders of our times.