In an exclusive interview with The Quint, Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee President Kamal Nath, dismissed all rumours about a fracture within the party regarding the selection of party members given tickets to contest the upcoming polls.
Earlier, rumours were abound that while some of the older party members were given tickets to stand for the polls, the newer members, who had been promised the same, were left out of the list altogether.
“Those who have been given party tickets (to contest the polls), are the ones who we believed were the most deserving of them,” he said.
About the party’s claim that the final list of candidates was made based on its own “surveys,” Nath said that surveys were indeed conducted, but they only worked as an “input”.
On BJP and ‘False Promises’
Slamming the ruling BJP party in Madhya Pradesh, Nath said that it was a governance that had been based on “false promises” only.
He also said there has never been an instance in political history where almost every age-group has been worried about their security and future as they are under the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government.
“It’s time that this government that has been ruling on the premise of false promises, finally comes to an end. I have no doubt that the people of Madhya Pradesh will vote keeping this in mind.”Kamal Nath to The Quint
On Chhindwara Model
In the interview, Nath said that the successful model of Chhindwara, which is also his nine-term parliamentary constituency, can be replicated in the other constituencies of the state as well.
“What’s happened in Chhindwara is out in the open. It’s been a (successful) transparent electoral process. And if it can happen in Chhindwara, then it can happen in the rest of Madhya Pradesh as well. It’s all about having ideals and goals.”Kamal Nath to The Quint
On Pitting Arun Yadav Against CM Chouhan
About the party’s decision to field former Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee President Arun Yadav against Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the latter’s home turf of Budhni, Nath said the move was made keeping in mind Yadav’s reputation as a strong leader and as someone who will give hope to the people of the state.
He also said that Yadav would put up a good fight against Chouhan.
Earlier, Chouhan had said that by pitting Yadav against him, Congress was making Yadav a “scapegoat.” On being questioned about this, Nath said that the chief minister would say whatever he believed would work in his favour for the upcoming polls.
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