While the buzz over senior Congress leader Kamal Nath's possible switch to the BJP grows louder, reports emerge that as many as 10 MLAs who support Nath and his son will reach Delhi on Sunday.
They include MLAs from Chhindwara, Balaghat, Morena and other districts, according to Jagran. Rumours are that as many as 10 MLAs, including Sajjan Singh Verma, may leave Congress for BJP along with Kamal Nath.
Verma had fuelled rumours about switching sides on Saturday, stating that a person is forced to change decisions when self-respect is wounded. "It calls for attention when a highly accomplished politician, who has contributed significantly to Congress and the country over the past 45 years, considers leaving his party," he said. However, he quickly clarified that there has been no decision regarding Kamal Nath ji's departure and all that remains were "conjecture."
Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh BJP camp continued to fuel the rumours of Kamal Nath's switch. A day after posting an image of Kamal Nath and his son with the caption 'Jai Shri Ram', Madhya Pradesh BJP state spokesperson Narendra Saluja put up another post on Sunday morning, taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi and national media panellist Alok Sharma for his derogatory remarks at Kamal Nath.
"Instead of taking action against the national spokesperson who called Kamal Nath ji a traitor, Rahul Gandhi is carrying him around respectfully. Rahul Gandhi has expressed his choice, now it is Kamal Nath ji's turn," Saluja posted.
However, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh opted to go mum about the developments, stating he would not speak about Kamal Nath. "'I only talk about Kashi Vishwanath, not Kamal Nath..' retorted Ramesh when queried about the Congress leader's exit plan. The Congress leader, however, explained about Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad visit and the schedule of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
Opposition's INDIA bloc leader Sanjay Raut too tried to dismiss the speculations, stating that Kamal Nath wouldn't leave Congress. "People from our Shiv Sena and NCP's Ajit Pawar also left, what happened? These are disloyal and cowardly people who left due to fear of ED. People say things like Congress couldn't have lost the MP election but people like Kamal Nath sabotaged the election. But I don't think he'll leave Congress," he said.
Raut added that whoever wants can leave. "It's not cowards and corrupt people who form a party but party workers. If someone wants to leave any party so that his son can win the election, he can leave," Raut added.
