Troika’s unity pays Congress in MP

Rasheed Kidwai
Senior journalist & author

IT was, perhaps, the longest day of them being together. On December 11, 2018, Digvijaya Singh, Vivek Tankha and Jyotiradiya Scindia had breakfast with Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath at 9, Shyamla Hills, Bhopal, discussing, dissecting and deliberating every constituency and party nominee even as a huge TV set gave them minute-to-minute details. Then, they moved together to Indira Gandhi Bhawan at 74, Bungalow Road, Bhopal, for lunch and evening tea, where the mood swung as per the counting trends — from optimism to anxiety and despair and again to one of cautious optimism. 

The bonding was intense and politically enriching. So, by the time Rahul Gandhi plugged in via WhatsApp calls and messages, the issue of "who will be the chief minister" was not a priority area. Rather, it was a collective resolve to get the Congress back in Vallabh Bhawan office. The Nath-Digvijaya-Scindia troika continued to stay together on the intervening night of December 11 and 12 when the fax message staking claim on government formation was sent to Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel. A joint press conference was held at 2.30 am. At 7 am of December 12, the trio again went in a huddle at Nath's residence. By this time, the Election Commission had announced the poll verdict of the Congress getting 114 Assembly seats in the House of 230. A direct contact with the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and four Independents was established.

Rahul counsels unity  

For the old-timers, the show of unity was rare. The geographical and political identity of Madhya Pradesh has been such that state Congress leaders have been regional satraps: Scindia of the Gwalior-Chambal region, Nath of Mahakaushal and Digvijaya of Madhya Bharat. But for the first time, they had pooled in resources, talent and experience to bring in a sense of synergy. 

This was possible due to AICC chief Rahul Gandhi's persuasive skills. Rahul had been candid to the trio for the past six months, often counselling them to present a united face of the party. At the same time, the young Gandhi had made it clear that any act of indiscipline (rebellion, betrayal, sabotage etc) would not be tolerated. During the ticket distribution process, Rahul was accommodating in giving party nominations to those backed by the trio.

This was both an opportunity and a challenge as Nath, Scindia and Digvijaya understood that unity would result in more power and reward.      

The Congress fought the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls in a clinical style. While Rahul Gandhi, who completed the first year in office as AICC chief yesterday,  deserves all focus and attention, it must be conceded that Sachin Pilot, Ashok Gehlot, Kamal Nath, Scindia, Digvijaya, Bhupesh Baghel, Tamradhawaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant also worked relentlessly to make the Congress story a success in the states. Nath was appointed Madhya Pradesh Congress president in May, 2018. 

Behind the scenes, he established contact with many. He reached out to many unions of state government employees. A parallel war room for social media outreach was set up. Nath used Asha health workers and angandwaadi volunteers.

Nath in a league of his own

As a nine-time Lok Sabha Member from Chhindwara, Nath is in a league of his own. He is the seniormost parliamentarian in the 16th Lok Sabha. Nath had cut his political teeth under Sanjay Gandhi. There was a slogan during 1975-77: 'Indira Gandhi ke do haath, Sanjay Gandhi aur Kamal Nath'. Few would remember how Nath had played a role in the downfall of the Janata regime of 1979, sowing seeds of discontent between Morarji Desai and Charan Singh and making full use of maverick Raj Narain.

An alumnus of  Doon School and St Xavier, Kolkata , Nath is known for his ready wit. He once famously narrated how while travelling from Paris to Brussels by train with the the European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, he had explained his stand against agricultural protectionism by the developed countries.  "Here are the fat cows living on subsidised food and they can't stand on their legs. That is my story and that is my argument," he had told Mandelson. On another occasion, when asked at what time he got up in the morning, Nath retorted, "First ask me what time I sleep."

Wooing the OBCs

When the poll campaign began, the Congress realised that BJP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had an iron grip on the state's influential other backward class communities which have a sizable population in the state. A near-panicky Congress then requested former state party chief Arun Yadav to contest against Chouhan from Budhini. Yadav, who hails from Khargone, was reluctant. But Nath, Digvijaya and Scindia offered to campaign for him. An informal offer of a Rajya Sabha seat was also made. 

As former environment, surface transport and commerce and industry minister, Nath has many ideas to make Madhya Pradesh a vibrant state. He recently told a visiting diplomat that he has a dream of turning Bhopal into San Francisco, the Californian town which has a diverse service industry and the seventh highest income county status in the US. Now, that is being really ambitious!