From 'Indira's Third Son' to BJP ally? Kamal Nath's reported defection sends shockwaves through Congress

livemint.com:

Kamal Nath and his son Nakul Kamal Nath arrived in Delhi on Saturday amid reports of their switch to the BJP. Kamal Nath has not denied the rumours. The nine-time Parliamentarian has not met any top BJP leaders.

However, BJP's Madhya Pradesh president VD Sharma said he was welcome in the party. The BJP swept the November 2023 Madhya Pradesh assembly election bagging 163 of 230 seats, successfully beating anti-incumbency. The state Congress leaders blamed Kamal Nath, the party’s state president, for its loss citing his overconfidence, lackadaisical campaign, among other complaints.

He was replaced by Jitu Patwari as the president of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee. Kamal Nath was the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in 2020 when his colleague Jyotiraditya Scindia led a revolt of legislators and toppled his government. Shivraj Singh Chouhan became the Chief Minister and Scindia went on to become the minister of civil aviation in the Narendra Modi cabinet.

"He (Kamal Nath) was chosen over Jyotiraditya Scindia as the MP CM (2018). But his government couldn't last more than 15 months. Later the party gave him another chance by making him the face of 2023 state polls.

But we know what happened," said a Congress leader who did not want to be named. The 77-year-old Congress veteran is reportedly unhappy over not being considered for Rajya Sabha by the party that he has been part of for over five decades of his political career. The Congress chose Gwalior-Chambal politician Ashok Singh for Rajya Sabha elections.