A loyalist of Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia has warned the top party leadership that he along with 500 members will resign if Scindia is "kept away from state politics" in Madhya Pradesh.
In a letter that includes signatures of a few other Congress workers, Congress president in-charge of Datia district Ashok Dangi insisted that senior Congress leaders should not overlook the role Scindia has played in forming the government in Madhya Pradesh.
Dangi alleged, “Some Congress leaders have a problem with Scindia' popularity, leadership style and way of handling things. And because of this, some leaders are trying to intentionally distance young leaders from party activities and create a chasm between Scindia and party workers.”
“If we do not support Scindia and deliberately distance workers from him, I will hold a protest in Delhi with 500 workers and leaders from 10 Congress branches. And if this continues despite the protest and decisions don't change, I and 500 Congress workers will submit our resignation before Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi,” Dangi warned. He urged the Congress leaders to support Scindia with responsibilities in Madhya Pradesh and not in Maharashtra, where he is currently involved in selection of candidates for the Assembly polls.
Scindia was one of the front-runners for the post of Madhya Pradesh chief minister after the Congress defeated the BJP in Assembly polls in December last year.
The Congress, however, decided to go with senior leader Kamal Nath, leaving several in the Scindia camp unhappy. Scindia went on to lose the Lok Sabha polls from his stronghold, Guna.
A Madhya Pradesh minister considered close to Scindia, State Women and Child Development Minister Imarti Devi, said "I cannot rejoice. I am not happy with this (new assignment to Scindia). What is this responsibility? If he should have been given the responsibility, it should have been that of Madhya Pradesh. Who knows him there (Maharashtra)?" Devi told reporters on Friday.
Scindia was earlier made Congress general secretary in-charge of western Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha polls. The party, however, was routed in the northern state with only Sonia Gandhi managing to retain her Rae Bareli seat and Rahul Gandhi getting trounced by Union Minister Smriti Irani in Amethi.
Kamal Nath on Friday attempted to downplay factionalism in the party. Kamal Nath told mediapersons, “I don't think Jyotiraditya Scindia is unhappy." Kamal Nath said discussions focused on the fact that a new state chief must be appointed after the Lok Sabha elections. When asked about a report that Scindia had threatened to "look for other options" if he wasn't given the top job, Nath replied, "I don't think it's right and I don't think he is angry with anyone."
