Kamal Nath’s BJP Move Hits Roadblock: Demands Rejected by Party Leadership
Bhopal, 25th February 2024: Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s potential move to the BJP has fallen through as the terms and conditions he presented to the BJP leadership were promptly rejected. Nath, who was in talks with senior BJP leaders, sought assurances similar to those given to Jyotiraditya Scindia before he defected to the ruling party.
Nath’s demands included a ticket for Nakul Nath from Chhindwara and tickets for Lok Sabha and assembly seats for other leaders planning to join the BJP. However, the BJP leadership turned down these requests, leading to a backtrack by Nath and the legislators supporting him.
The legislators were also reluctant to contest elections after quitting the Congress, and former ministers declined to join the BJP without assurances for Lok Sabha election tickets.
State BJP leaders opposed assembly by-elections and argued that Nath’s entry into the party wouldn’t be significantly beneficial. With these challenges, Nath had no choice but to remain with Congress.
This development marks the second major setback in Kamal Nath’s political career. The first was in 1996 when he was implicated in the Jail Hawala case. Following his acquittal, Nath faced defeat in the Chhindwara Lok Sabha by-election against Sunderlal Patwa. The recent episode has created political turmoil, especially in Chhindwara, where Nath had hinted at a possible shift to the BJP before the deal fell through.
