In the aftermath of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, where the Congress faced a setback, there are indications that state party Chief Kamal Nath might submit his resignation. A meeting with Congress party President Mallikarjun Kharge is expected on Tuesday, as reported by PTI, citing inside sources.
The election results revealed a commanding victory for the BJP, securing a two-thirds majority with 163 out of 230 seats in the Madhya Pradesh assembly. In contrast, the Congress managed to secure only 66 seats in the polls held last month, with the votes counted on Sunday.
To address the defeat and analyze the reasons behind the poor performance, the Congress has convened a meeting of all 230 candidates on Tuesday. Kamal Nath is slated to address the gathering, joined by senior leaders such as Digvijaya Singh and Suresh Pachouri, to discuss the factors contributing to the party’s electoral setback.
According to PTI reports, dissatisfaction within the Congress leadership stems from Nath’s remarks against several leaders of the INDIA bloc. This includes Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar, particularly regarding seat-sharing agreements. The opposition INDIA bloc, formed to challenge the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, faced disagreements over seat allocations. The Congress leadership is reportedly displeased with Nath’s stance during these negotiations.
Notably, the Samajwadi Party sought four to six seats, and the JD(U) requested only one seat in Madhya Pradesh. However, disagreements on these terms led to discord within the opposition alliance.
The Congress leadership is also said to be unhappy with Kamal Nath’s decision to meet Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday while not engaging with party leaders and workers. This move has added to the dissatisfaction within the party ranks.
During the previous state assembly elections in 2018, the Congress emerged victorious, securing 114 seats and leading the BJP, which won 109 seats. Kamal Nath assumed the role of chief minister, but political dynamics shifted dramatically in 2020 when Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with 22 loyalist MLAs, switched allegiance to the BJP. This move led to the fall of the Congress government, and the BJP, with Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the helm, returned to power.
Madhya Pradesh has been a traditional stronghold for the BJP for the past two decades, except for the brief 15-month period of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in 2018. The recent election results underscore the state’s historical political landscape and the challenges faced by the Congress in maintaining a sustained presence.