Congress in MP, Rajasthan See Cracks Post Lok Sabha Polls Debacle, Fingers Raised at Kamal Nath And Ashok Gehlot
Out of the 54 parliamentary seats in the two states combined, the grand old party was reduced to 1, despite winning both the states in assembly polls last year.
New Delhi, May 27: Following the humiliating rout in Lok Sabha elections 2019, cracks have come to the fore within the Congress state units of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Out of the 54 parliamentary seats in the two states combined, the grand old party was reduced to 1, despite winning both the states in assembly polls last year.
Voices of dissent have gained chorus following Congress president Rahul Gandhi reportedly hitting out at three top leaders - Kamal Nath, P Chidambaram and Ashok Gehlot - for "pushing with the candidature of their sons" while disappointing the party cadres. Rahul Gandhi's Personality Does Not Attract People: Shiv Sena
CWC sources said that when former Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia urged Gandhi to strengthen the state leaderships of the party, the party president quipped looking at Chidambaram, saying that “Mr Chidambaram threatened to resign if a ticket was denied to his son.”
About Kamal Nath who was absent from the CWC meeting, Gandhi said, “Mr Nath said how could he be CM if his son was not fielded.” Taunting Gehlot the Congress Chief said the Rajasthan CM spent seven days campaigning for his son in Jodhpur neglecting the rest of the state.
Leaders of the MP Congress Committee, while speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said a major section of party workers were demoralised after a "young, dynamic and hardworking" leader like Jyotiraditya Scindia was pushed aside to make way for 72-year-old Nath to takeover as the Chief Minister.
In Rajasthan, at least two Cabinet Ministers in the Congress government have taken cue from Gandhi's infuriated remark against Gehlot. Cooperative Minister Udaylal Anjana and Consumer Affairs Minister Ramesh Chand Meena have went on record to condemn the CM.
While Anjana reiterated the charge that Gehlot spent more time campaigning for his son, Meena went on to say that the "defeat should not be taken lightly" and the party should fix accountability.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 27, 2019 09:39 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).