Fearing a third consecutive power drought in Madhya Pradesh, which is set to go to the Assembly elections by the year-end, the Congress leadership has recently insisted on the need for unity in the state unit of the party at a meeting, which was attended by all the Union ministers from the state besides functionaries of the PCC.
Recognising the ground realities in the state, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who chaired the meeting, did some plain speaking to them, sources said, adding that the young leader told them that if “they fail to fight collectively this time, the result would not be a loss only for the party, but also of their own”.
Since the Congress lost power in the state in 2003, as Uma Bharti-led the BJP to oust two-term chief minister Digvijay Singh, factionalism ruled the roost in MPCC. One of the former AICC general secretary in-charge of the state, while talking to this newspaper, had once rued: “BJP has been ruling in the state not because of its strength, but because of our weaknesses. There are at least seven Congresses within the party fold in the state and each of the factions spend its energy more in defeating their counterparts within the party rather than the ruling BJP.”
The Congress’ state unit is divided into several camps, owing allegiance to various leaders such as Digvijaya Singh, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kamal Nath. Incidentally, at the meeting besides the top three national leaders, CLP leader Ajay Singh and state unit chief Kantilal Bhuria were also present.
Sources said, indications were also given to the leaders that the high command is weighing to option of declaring the party’s chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Assembly elections. “Keeping this in mind, Rahulji told them that once the name is finalised, all should rally behind the leader and work collectively to ensure party’s victory in the state,” they added. Indications, however, are there that the party may project Mr Scindia to lead the party in coming elections.