A 'sulking' Digvijaya Singh, who was removed as the general secretary in-charge of Telangana by the Congress recently, has reportedly asked the party to relieve him from all responsibilities, so that he can go on a spiritual padyatra across Narmada in Madhya Pradesh, his home state.
Known for his controversial statements, it will not be easy for Congress to deal with a leader like Digvijaya. He is an essential evil for Congress in Madhya Pradesh, if not at the national level.
Digvijaya claims he is the disciple of legendary Congressman, Dwarka Prasad Mishra. Mishra used to say 'a politician's death does not come from removal or resignation from a post of power but his fading away from public memory'. Digvijaya, who was the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh 14 years back, has not adorned any post of power since. Yet, he likes to claim that he is a "front-line leader" in the oldest party of India.
Digvijaya failed to install a Congress government in Goa despite getting support from maximum number of MLAs. The poor coordination among leaders of the state, when he was the in-charge general secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC), also contributed to his fall in grace from the eyes of the party’s top leadership. He was in charge of Karnataka and undivided Andhra Pradesh, but these responsibilities were taken away one-by-one. Digvijaya Singh knows well that politics in Congress begins from Gandhi family. All those who have 'fallen out' with the ring of high command have never gained.
There are two portraits hanging side by side in Digvijaya’s office in 68, Lodhi Estate of New Delhi. In one, Rajiv Gandhi is walking with his mother Indira Gandhi and listening patiently. In the other, Rahul Gandhi is talking to his mother Sonia Gandhi.
Digvijaya Singh shares a unique connection with all the four. It was Rajiv Gandhi who promoted him in politics. In recent times, he was one of the main advisors of Rahul Gandhi. However, times have changed.
Now, the former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh is planning to hit the roots again. Since, he does not find any place in Rahul Gandhi's new team, he has decided to do a religious-spritual padyatra along the banks of river Narmada. Pilgrims walk around the banks of Narmada starting from Amarkantak to Arabian Sea in Gujarat, a stretch of over 3,000 kilometres covering both banks. His yatra, despite his claim that it is a private one, has evinced keen interest in Madhya Pradesh.
With elections due next year in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the Congress is finding it difficult to deal with Digvijaya. He has immense clout among the Congressmen of the states. His faction is considered to be very powerful. But many leaders in the state say that Congress is in opposition due to his 10-year-rule, which was very unpopular amongst the masses.
Since Digvijaya does not have any work at national level now, he plans to explore his state. "Digvijaya Singh is the only politician in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, who is known everywhere and who knows every Congressman right down to the block level. He can speak with a Congress leader in a crowded Bastar rally on first name basis," says Satyanarayan Sharma, senior Congress leader of Raipur and former minister.
Spokesperson and Congress leader from Bhopal J.P. Dhanopia says, "Digvijaya Singh is like encyclopedia of Madhya Pradesh Congress and he knows the strength and weakness of party in every pocket of the state".
Though everybody in Madhya Pradesh Congress recognises the importance of Digvijaya, almost every leader, including his supporters, want him to stay behind the curtains.
"The 10 year reign of Digvijaya is one of those periods in the history of state when sadak, bijli and pani were at their worst. He will be an asset to party if his role is limited as a master strategist. It will damage the prospects, if he is allowed to campaign in public asking for votes," says a former minister of Madhya Pradesh.
However, Digvijaya himself has clarified number of times that he has no interest in state politics and would continue to be at the Centre. According to a senior Congress leader, the party high command is aware of the fact that Digvijaya is not very popular among masses and have handed leadership to new faces like Arun Yadav. Jyotiraditya Scindia, another leader of the state, has also openly expressed his desire to lead the Congress. However, the party is yet to take a decision as the assembly polls are due next year in November.
