Amid political circles from Bhopal to New Delhi abuzz with speculation about senior Congress leader Kamal Nath along with his son and Chhindwara MP Nakul Nath joining the BJP, both the leaders all of a sudden left for the national capital lenting credence to the rumours.
Furthermore, Nakul Nath, the lone Congress Lok Sabha MP from Madhya Pradesh, who was supposed to continue his meeting with party workers in his family bastion Chhindwara from February 14 to 18, stopped the meeting and left for Delhi along with his father. Meanwhile, he also removed 'INC' from his social media bio.
All these sequences gave rise to the speculation that Kamal Nath, who is considered close to the Nehru-Gandhi family, likely to end his decades long association with the grand old party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
On February 10, IANS had reported that a rift between Kamal Nath and former AICC president Rahul Gandhi erupted following the party's loss in the assembly election in November last year.
Sources had then also claimed that a deal between Kamal Nath and the BJP that was "derailed" due to some reasons, was "brought back" on track again with several top leaders from the BJP having supported the same.
However, seasoned politician with over 40 years of experience, Kamal Nath left the political watchers guessing.. Though all is not going well between Rahul and Kamal Nath, the latter was regularly visiting to meet Sonia Gandhi. Kamal Nath's frequent visits to meet Sonia were also being viewed as the leader racing for the Rajya Sabha seat from Madhya Pradesh.
Recently when Kamal Nath invited Congress MLAs for a dinner at his residence in Bhopal, it was judged as his power show to obtain the Rajya Sabha seat. However, two days later, the party nominated MP Congress treasurer Ashok Singh for the Upper House of the Parliament. That probably had disappointed Kamal Nath, who wants to retain his bastion Chhindwara.
However, sources in the Madhya Pradesh Congress still believe that Nakul Nath may join the BJP but not Kamal Nath, citing latter's decades long association of Kamal Nath with the Congress and his personal bonding with the Nehru-Gandhi family.
Kamal Nath and veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, who refrained from making any comment on all these speculations, said on Saturday that he cannot believe the person who gave years to the Congress, will join the BJP.
Tripura making significant strides towards rapid development: CM Dr Saha
Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today said that the present state government is committed to delivering good governance to all sections of society, with the state making significant strides towards rapid development.
Wanted NSCN (K-YA) cadre held in Assam by security forces
The army and Assam Rifles in coordination with the Assam Police, apprehended a wanted top cadre of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Khaplang’s Yung Aung faction (NSCN-K-YA) from the state's Charaideo district, officials said on Monday.
PM Modi condemns Germany market attack, advocates brotherhood at CBCI Christmas event
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condemned attempts to incite violence in society, highlighting that the teachings of Jesus Christ promote love, harmony, and brotherhood.
National Awardee film-maker and 'parallel cinema' doyen Shyam Benegal dies at 90
Shyam Sunder S. Benegal, a multiple National Award winner and among the pioneers of ‘parallel cinema’ – with silver screen classics like “Junoon”, “Ankur”, “Manthan”, “Zubeida” and “The Making of the Mahatma” – passed away after a long battle with a kidney disease, his family said here on Monday.
End of no-detention policy: Students failing final exams in Classes 5, 8 will be retained in same grade
The central government has scrapped the "no-detention policy" in schools. In this regard, the Ministry of Education has issued an official Gazette notification.
Former SC judge V. Ramasubramanian appointed as NHRC Chairperson
After being without a regular designated head for over six months, the Centre on Monday cleared the appointment of retired Supreme Court judge Justice V. Ramasubramanian as the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Minister Sushanta Chowdhury chairs 15th meeting of state road safety council
The state road and transport minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Monday chaired the 15th meeting of the State Road Safety Council here at Agartala and said that the government is contemplating to ensure zero road accidents through generating more awareness.
Lok Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb slams Congress's dynastic politics
Former Tripura Chief Minister and current Lok Sabha MP, Biplab Kumar Deb, on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party's dynastic politics, accusing it of surrendering power to the communists in the state due to family-based succession.