Congress grapples with defection: Now, Nath, son jumping ship?

The Madhya Pradesh Congress cadre is abuzz with rumours of Congress ex-chief minister Kamal Nath and his son Nukul Nath planning to switch sides and enter the BJP. Nukul Nath is the only Congress Lok Sabha Member Parliament from Madhya Pradesh.

A party insider claimed, “There are talks within the party of him having fixed dates with Prime Minister Modi, but these are just talks. Nothing substantial has come out which can hint that he is planning to leave the party. Moreover, there is no such activity on ground, which can suggest he defecating from the party.”

Leaders close to Nath suggest that it was AICC spokesperson Alok Sharma who had sowed the seed of suspicion against Nath on media channels. Adding that since Congress lost the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, he has gone hammer and tongue against Nath.
A Congress office bearer close to Nath said, “The high command should have taken action against Sharma. Because of his open acc, Nath is sad.”

Additionally, a section of leaders say, since Nukul Nath has a stronghold in Chindwara Lok Sabha constituency, he may be the one who could leave the party in the same way Milind Deora left the party. A leader said, “Kamal Nath is old, if he leaves the party, he will lose the Muslim cadre that is working for him and also lose a layer of honour. Since he has always been recognised as congressi. And also Indira Gandhi called him her third son which had gained him a lot of affection among the Congress leaders. If he leaves his political life could come to an end in a jiffy. But if Nukul Nath goes to BJP, it would simply be he looking for greener pastures as Congress is shedding it’s strength day by day.

However Media advisor to Kamal Nath, Piyush Babele struck down all the rumours and wrote on social media platform X, “Such rumors are being spread conspiratorially on social media that former Chief Minister Honorable Kamal Nath ji has sought an appointment with the Prime Minister and he will meet the Prime Minister on 21st January. This news is completely conspiratorial. Honorable Kamal Nath ji is neither going to meet the Prime Minister nor has he asked for time to meet. Apart from this, he is not even in Delhi on 21st January.

It seems that as part of an organized conspiracy, false and baseless rumors are being spread continuously about Kamal Nath ji for the last few days. Such actions are extremely condemnable.”