Congress to get a body blow if Kamal Nath joins BJP

Asenior Congress MLA from Madhya Pradesh confirmed to this newspaper that Kamal Nath was talking to BJP.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

With the scope of revival of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh in the near future looking impossible and with the BJP expected to win the Lok Sabha elections resoundingly, supporters of Congress heavyweight Kamal Nath believe that him joining the BJP could not be ruled out.

The 78-year-old former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, multiple-times Union Minister, who is considered amongst the closest to the Gandhi family, is also seen as an astute individual who keeps the security and well-being of his political and business empire above the calls of emotions.

Congress leaders, both who are a part of camp Kamal Nath and those who are not, and who spoke to The Sunday Guardian, stated that with age not on his side and his son and Member of Parliament Nakul Nath unlikely to get the political support that his father was accustomed to both from the Congress leadership and the BJP leadership, it would be a logical step if Kamal Nath and his son decided to join the BJP in the coming days, as is being perceived, both in Delhi and Bhopal.

On Friday, Kamal Nath met former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and as per party sources, sought a Rajya Sabha nomination for himself from Madhya Pradesh where the Congress can send one candidate in the forthcoming elections. However, given the fact that Rahul Gandhi is not in the mood to oblige Kamal Nath any more, the chances of him being given a Rajya Sabha nomination are remote.

A senior Congress MLA from Madhya Pradesh, while speaking to The Sunday Guardian confirmed that Kamal Nath was in talks with the BJP and that he was waiting for a better deal.

Apart from sending him to the Rajya Sabha and giving Nakul Nath a Lok Sabha ticket, sources said, the junior Nath will be given a place in the Union Cabinet that will be formed if BJP comes to power.