Bhopal, March 17: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh should contest in Lok Sabha elections 2019, suggests Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, but adds a rider for his longtime party colleague. According to Nath, if Singh does enter the polling fray, he should "choose the toughest seat" in the state.

Nath, while speaking to reporters, clarified that the decision to field Digvijay does not lie with him but the party high command -- provided that the 72-year-old is himself willing to contest. The MP CM has, however, zeroed in on a couple of seats from where he would prefer Singh to fight. Digvijaya Singh Suffering from a 'Venereal Disease', Says BJP's Gopal Bhargava on Pulwama Attack Row.

While Nath did not mention any seat in particular, he said there were “2-3-4 seats” in MP which the Congress had not won in the past “30-35” years.

“I have requested Digvijaya Singh that if he wants to contest Lok Sabha polls, then he should do so from the toughest seat. There are 2-3-4 seats from where we have not won elections since the last 30-35 years,” Nath told reporters here.

Congress functionaries said he may have been referring to Bhopal and Indore Lok Sabha seats, both of which have been held by the BJP since 1989.

Congress sources said Nath is keen that Singh contest from Bhopal. Former President late Shankar Dayal Sharma was the last Congress winner from the seat in the 1984 general elections.

Nath, in reply to a query, however, said it was for Singh to decide from where he wants to contest. He also added that the Congress would announce Lok Sabha candidates from the state in the next three-four days.

Singh, a former two-time chief minister and multiple times Lok Sabha MP, is currently a Rajya Sabha member. His stature within the Congress has downslided since 2003, when the party was routed from Madhya Pradesh.

Known for his controversial remarks, Singh was reportedly asked to maintain a distance from the poll campaigns in the recent elections to the assemblies in the Hindi heartland. "I have only one job, no campaigning, no speech. When I deliver a speech, Congress votes get reduced, so I don't go," Singh had said during the electioneering phase in October last year.

(With PTI inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 17, 2019 04:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).