Bhopal:

Congress veteran Kamal Nath on Monday ruled out the possibility of contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha poll from Jabalpur and said he will not leave Chhindwara, his political stronghold in Madhya Pradesh.

The Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat is currently represented by his son Nakul Nath.

Kamal Nath has represented Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency nine times. He is currently an MLA from Chhindwara assembly seat.

Asked if he will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election from Jabalpur, a prominent parliamentary segment in the Mahakoshal region of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath said, “There is no plan. I will not leave Chhindwara in any case.” He was talking to reporters in Chhindwara.

The former CM had on earlier occasions said his son will contest from Chhindwara.

Asked about Congress leaders switching sides in Madhya Pradesh, he said, “Suresh Pachouri (former Union minister) joined the BJP. It was his wish.” Veteran leader Pachouri had joined the ruling BJP on Saturday.

On Monday, two other former Congress MLAs Arunoday Choubey and Shivdayal Bagri also joined the BJP.

Kamal Nath said Choubey had already resigned from the Congress.

On speculation that Congress leader Deepak Joshi might also join the BJP, Kamal Nath said, “Wo toh wahin ke the (he belonged to it).” Deepak Joshi, son of former BJP chief minister Kailash Joshi, joined the Congress before the 2023 assembly elections and unsuccessfully contested on its ticket from the Khategaon seat in Dewas district. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chhindwara:

A day after dismissing the buzz about his BJP switch, Congress veteran Kamal Nath on Wednesday told the party workers that he would not “impose” himself on them and would “leave” if they want him to.

Addressing a meeting of the party workers at Harrai on his home turf Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh, the 77-year-old leader said he had been receiving their love and trust for many years.

“If you want to bid farewell to Kamal Nath, it’s your choice. I am ready to leave. I don’t want to impose myself. This is a matter of your choice,” the former MP chief minister told the gathering.

छिन्दवाड़ा ज़िले की अमरवाड़ा विधानसभा के ब्लाक हर्रई में ब्लाक कांग्रेस कार्यकर्ता सम्मेलन मे सम्मिलित हुआ। pic.twitter.com/xUycKJXioo

— Kamal Nath (@OfficeOfKNath) February 28, 2024

Mr Nath’s son Nakul Nath is a Lok Sabha member from the Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency.

The senior Nath had already announced that Nakul will contest again from this seat.

The veteran politician, who represents the Chhindwara assembly seat, said the BJP projects itself aggressively but Congress workers should not panic.

“We have to vote for securing the future and I have trust in all of you,” he said.

Mr Nath said the Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya belongs to all, suggesting that the BJP should not take credit for its construction.

“Does the BJP own the Ram temple? It belongs to all, including me. The temple is constructed with public money. The Supreme Court gave a verdict and since they (BJP) are in power, they constructed the temple,” he said.

Mr Nath also said he worshipped Lord Ram and constructed a big temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman on the land owned by him in Chhindwara.

“We are religious people and keep our culture intact,” he said.

Amid speculations that he might join the BJP, the veteran politician on Tuesday dismissed them as a “media creation”.

“You (media) are making such speculations and nobody else is saying so. Have you ever heard from me? You run the news and ask me. You should refute this news,” Mr Nath told reporters on Tuesday. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)