At the centre of the tumult in Madhya Pradesh Congress is the claim of Jyotiraditya Scindia to the post of state Congress president. The renewed clamour by Scindia's supporters that he should be made PCC chief and the speculation that he could be exploring other options are evidence of the former Guna MP's desperate fight to survive in the changed political scenario.
The 48-year-old leader was seen as one of the most vociferous defenders of former Congress President Rahul Gandhi both inside and outside Parliament. Together with other young leaders like Sachin Pilot, Milind Deora and Jitin Prasada, all members of 'Team Rahul' or the gen-next of the party, he enjoyed political sway and ministerial responsibilities in the Manmohan Singh government.
However, the scenario has changed drastically for Scindia, especially since his defeat from his traditional seat of Guna in the Lok Sabha elections. Recently, he was appointed as chairman of the party's screening committee for the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra. However, this is not expected to be any consolation for Scindia, who had fancied his chances as PCC chief in Madhya Pradesh and as chief minister of the state when the Congress won the Assembly elections in December 2018.
It is believed that Rahul had wanted to install him as PCC chief in Madhya Pradesh before the Assembly elections in the state. However, the intense factionalism in the state unit, coupled with veteran Digvijaya Singh throwing his weight behind Kamal Nath, forced Rahul's hands, who went on to appoint Nath as the president of state Congress. Scindia was named the chairman of the state Congress campaign committee.
In the event of the Congress winning in Madhya Pradesh, Scindia had hoped to be nominated as chief minister. However, with the party ending up just short of the majority, it was felt that the more experienced and resourceful Nath was better placed to lead the government. After protracted discussions, it was announced that Nath would be the chief minister.
Scindia had then hoped to be named PCC chief. However, with Rahul resigning as Congress President in the wake of the party's disappointing performance in the Lok Sabha elections, and Sonia Gandhi taking charge as Interim Congress President, Scindia's campaign to be accorded the post has become all the more challenging. This appears to be the reason for the spurt in the demands by Scindia's supporters that he should be made the state Congress chief or they will quit the party en masse and the renewed attacks on Nath and Digvijaya.
Scindia, whose meeting with Sonia in Delhi today got postponed, finds himself at a disadvantage after the change of guard at the head of the party. The old guard — contemporaries of Sonia who have worked with her — is seen as now having an upper hand. And Nath is one such leader. He enjoys an excellent rapport with Sonia. The recent outbursts against Digvijaya by Madhya Pradesh Forest Minister Umang Singhar were referred to the party's disciplinary committee after Nath had a meeting with Sonia on Saturday. Singhar had claimed that Digvijaya was running the state government from behind the curtains. And Scindia had remarked that Nath should hear both the sides.
Nath, even while it is learnt that he is not averse to giving up the post of PCC chief, is believed to have suggested to the party high command that his successor should either be from the Adivasi or the OBC communities. Inherent in this idea is resistance to naming Scindia as the state Congress president.
The rebellion of Scindia is driven by the sheer necessity of political survival.