Nath vs Scindia: Root cause for Cong ouster in MP

 Jyotiraditya Scindia was a lad of eight years when Kamal Nath hatched probably his first major plot to topple the Janata Party government in 1980 led by Morarji Desai.

As Sanjay Gandhi's friend Nath had established contact with Raj Narain, who had humbled Indira Gandhi in the famous electoral malpractice case in Allahabad High Court that led to the imposition of Emergency. With ample help from Raj Narain, the Congress had subsequently toppled the Janata Party government by creating a rift between Morarji Desai and Charan Singh.

Kamal Nath told Narain that Congress was ready to extend support to the Charan Singh led government. Raj Narain lured Charan Singh into forming the government with Congress support in July 1979 and in January 1980, the Congress pulled the rug from beneath Charan Singh's feet.

With the help and support of Raj Narain and Ram Manohar Lohia, Charan Singh first became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1967. Raj Narain was again instrumental in bringing the Janata Party to power. But he colluded with Kamal Nath and Sanjay Singh to bring about the fall of the Charan Singh government just 24 days after forming the government.

Life has brought him to the pass where the same lad has emerged as his nemesis. Ironically Jyotiraditya was his party colleague just a few days ago and his father Madhavrao Scindia was his colleague.

One offensive remark about the junior Scindia has cost Kamal Nath his job. Scindia felt neglected in the party as Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath had systematically marginalised him in the organisation. Kamal Nath who held both the PCC chief and Chief Minister's post would miss no chance to snub Scindia and his camp followers in the ministry.

The flashpoint came when Scindia expressed his frustration saying he would hit the streets if the promises

made in the state manifesto were not fulfilled. Nath snubbed Scindia and dared him to go ahead and hit the streets. Nath must be ruing the day he made the remark.

His anger spilled over during his interaction with the media. Nath chose Jyotiraditya Scindia for special treatment during his press conference before resigning as chief minister. Scindia ended his 18-year association with Congress to join the BJP and played a key role in ouster of Kamal Nath's government.

"One ambitious and power-hungry Maharaja (Jyotiraditya Scindia, defeated in the last Lok Sabha elections from Guna) rejected by the public and his 22 greedy MLAs and the BJP conspired to kill democratic values (in MP)," Nath said.

"People of the state won't forgive these greedy rebels (MLAs) who betrayed them," he added.

Scindia also tweeted to hit back, "Today the people have won in Madhya Pradesh. I have always believed that politics should be the medium of public service, but the state government deviated from this path. Truth has won again. Satyameva Jayate." IANS