Speculation mounts as Congress MLAs close to Kamal Nath arrive in Delhi amid rumors of BJP switch

Around half a dozen Madhya Pradesh MLAs, known for their allegiance to senior Congress leader Kamal Nath, arrived in Delhi on Sunday amid speculation that both Kamal Nath and his MP son Nakul Nath are poised to join the BJP.

Out of these MLAs, three hail from Chhindwara, with another three from the same region reportedly en route to Delhi, sources close to the seasoned leader told PTI. Kamal Nath, a nine-time MP from Chhindwara and the current MLA from the constituency, faced the removal as the state president of the Congress after the party's lackluster performance in the November Assembly polls.

Despite attempts to contact these MLAs, they remained elusive, and it is suggested that Lakhan Ghangoriya, a Nath loyalist and former state minister, is accompanying them in Delhi.


Expressing discontent over Kamal Nath's removal, Deepak Saxena, a former MP minister and Nath loyalist, emphasized the need for the leader to be treated with respect. Saxena asserted that regardless of Nath's decision, their support would remain unwavering.

"We want out leader to be accorded all respect. Whatever decision he takes, we will be with him," Saxena said.

Another Nath loyalist, former state minister Vikram Verma, wrote 'Jai Shri Ram' in his X profile.

"I will follow Kamal Nath," Verma, a former MP, had told reporters on Saturday.

Amidst these developments, efforts are underway by the Nath camp to secure the backing of 23 MLAs to avoid the application of anti-defection laws. Currently, the Congress holds 66 seats in the 230-member Assembly of Madhya Pradesh.

This situation draws parallels with the events of March 2020 when another senior Congress leader, Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with several loyal MLAs, defected to the BJP, resulting in the downfall of the Congress-led government helmed by Kamal Nath. The political landscape in Madhya Pradesh continues to witness dynamic shifts as these political developments unfold.