How Congress is struggling to rein in factional feuds in Madhya Pradesh, caught between leaders big and small

The authorities Congress is dominated by 2 main factions led by erstwhile main ministers Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh. Both are seasoned governmental operators who bid immense networks wrong the party, but their narration has been fraught with an underlying rivalry. But these leaders and the different satraps successful the enactment person publically denied allegations of factionalism.

Nath, the Chhindwara MLA, brings administrative acquisition and fiscal clout but his basal of loyalists is shrinking arsenic galore of his erstwhile supporters question “greener pastures”. A elder person successful the Nath campy said, “Kamal Nath has contributed immensely to the enactment during his stint arsenic the Congress president successful Madhya Pradesh and the enactment tin payment from his guidance if his sentiment is taken. He is simply a elder person of the enactment and his sentiment is not taken connected galore important issues, which has caused a rift.”

Veteran Congress leaders and erstwhile Madhya Pradesh CMs Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh. (Express archive photograph by Anil Sharma)

Leaders adjacent to Patwari, who was appointed the authorities main successful the aftermath of the 2023 Assembly canvass loss, said Nath’s power was connected the wane. “His lad mislaid his location basal of Chhindwara (in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls). There were rumours that Nath would articulation the BJP, which damaged his governmental standing. His supporters are seeking greener pastures and galore of them person travel to Patwari’s camp,” a person said.

Digvijaya Singh, connected the different hand, remains a maestro of grassroots mobilisation and is often credited with his quality to weave caste coalitions that entreaty to the state’s agrarian electorate. A person adjacent to his campy said, “Singh reportedly expressed vexation implicit the information that Patwari does not perceive to him. While Patwari has been trying to asseverate his authorization arsenic the authorities president, his narration with Singh’s campy remains tenuous, with mistrust simmering beneath the surface.”

Singh, according to enactment leaders, poses a acold greater situation to Patwari who owes him for his emergence up the enactment ranks. With erstwhile Congress person Jyotiraditya Scindia deserting the party, it is Singh who present holds the reins of the Gwalior-Chambal portion for the Congress. “Singh has been communicating the rivalries of antithetic camps to the cardinal bid and raising reddish flags but the bickering continues,” different person said.

Other groups successful the party

Then, determination is the increasing bonhomie betwixt authorities Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar and erstwhile authorities Congress president Arun Yadav who are vying for relevance albeit with constricted success. Yadav has seen his power wane dramatically successful caller years. He was not adjacent fixed a summons successful the 2023 Assembly elections and has been retired of the limelight since helium mislaid successful the 2018 Assembly polls to erstwhile CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan successful Budhni. Months up of the 2018 elections, helium was dropped arsenic authorities Congress president and replaced by Nath.

Singhar, a tribal leader, commands respect successful his portion but “lacks broader appeal”. Sources said Singhar aims to cultivate a basal of 50 young leaders implicit the adjacent 5 years, a determination that has been viewed with suspicion by the Singh and Patwari camps.

“Singhar has been gathering Arun Yadav and determination is thing brewing betwixt them. There is speech of Singhar attempting to prop up his ain younker leaders successful the authorities who volition situation Patwari. Singhar has successful the past made statements against Singh arsenic well. It’s a three-way fight,” said a person from Bhopal.

However, the Singh faction remains profoundly entrenched and immoderate effort to “ditch Raja”, arsenic Digvijaya is colloquially known, has been met with absorption from the party’s aged guard, the person said.

While Patwari and Singhar person publically denied immoderate animosity, insiders said their narration was thing but cordial. Patwari’s caller reorganisation of the authorities unit, which included a revamp of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), sparked discontent among elder leaders.

Another confidant of Singhar said, “Chhatis ka aakda hai Patwari aur Singhar ke beech (There is simply a large rivalry betwixt Patwari and Singhar). Ever since Patwari reconstituted the (state) Congress, Singhar’s men person hardly got immoderate positions. Patwari was much focused connected processing his ain squad amid unit from Nath and Singh. This volition travel to wound him successful the future.”

Ajay Singh “Rahul”, the lad of erstwhile CM and Union Minister Arjun Singh, represents a smaller faction, according to Congress insiders. Ajay’s power is mostly confined to his father’s erstwhile strongholds successful the Vindhya region. However, contempt his lineage, Ajay has struggled to look arsenic a towering fig successful his ain right. His governmental trajectory has been eclipsed by the emergence of younger leaders specified arsenic Sidharth Kushwaha, who has received backing from the Nath and the Digvijaya Singh camps. Ajay has openly voiced his grievance implicit being excluded from cardinal enactment decisions.

Ajay has openly criticised Patwari for bringing successful leaders “responsible for the party’s existent condition”. The simmering tensions were evident during the party’s PAC gathering past November, wherever Patwari was met with protests and the lack of cardinal elder leaders. Patwari, visibly emotional, broke down during the meeting.

The Congress has publically defended Patwari’s remarks. “Patwari’s statements person been distorted. He wants to extremity factionalism and this was distorted for governmental means,” said enactment spokesperson Mukesh Nayak.