Congress expected to announce new chief in Madhya Pradesh soon

The Indian National Congress is expected to announce a new chief for its Madhya Pradesh unit soon. At present, Chief Minister Kamal Nath is holding the position. Any such decision is expected to put an end to perceived jostling for the post of President of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee among senior leaders.

People familiar with the matter said that Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has called State in-charge Deepak Babaria for discussions on the issue. A decision may be expected in the coming days. The party has been facing increased factionalism over the past few months. Since the defeat of the party in the Lok Sabha elections and Rahul Gandhi stepping down as the President, a tussle has brewed between Jyotiraditya Scindia and senior leader Digvijaya Singh.

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Old Guard vs young Turks

Many in the party are keen to have Jyotiraditya Scindia appointed to the post. On the other hand, supporters of Chief Minister Kamal Nath are pitching for his loyalists for the position. The tussle has reached a point where Scindia's supporters in the Gwalior-Chambal region took to the street in the past demanding his appointment as MPCC chief. They have threatened to severe ties with the party if their wishes are not considered.

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Can't afford factionalism

The jockeying for the post has seemingly delayed the announcement and the Congress central leadership is taking various factors into account. Congress can ill-afford factionalism given its dependence on support from other parties for survival. It has 114 MLAs compared to 108 of the BJP and has outside support of Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and four independent MLAs. A stable and steady government in Madhya Pradesh is essential for Congress to improve its electoral prospects. The state saw Congress come to power in December 2018 after defeating Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government. That happened under Kamal Nath's presidency of the state unit.

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The party has much at stake in the Jhabua assembly bypoll whose result will be declared on Thursday. The Congress is making all efforts to wrest the tribal-dominated seat from the opposition BJP. Congress has fielded senior leader Kantilal Bhuria against BJP's Bhanu Bhuria, who is making his electoral debut.

BJP eyes opportunity

Kailash Vijayvargiya, BJP general secretary, has already hinted that if the BJP wins this by-election, then the Kamal Nath Government would be dislodged. "If the people make us win Jhabua Assembly by-poll, then I guarantee to change the Chief Minister of the State," he had said on Sunday. The party had swept Madhya Pradesh in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year.

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(With ANI inputs)