Not in race for any post, says Kamal Nath as he takes charge

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath, who arrived here today to formally take charge of the party in the state where Assembly polls are due this year, said he did not crave any post.

"I do not have the hunger for a post. I want that a Congress government is formed in Madhya Pradesh and its future is secured," he told reporters, when asked whether he was in the race for the CM's post.

"Today the question is not about a person but it's about Madhya Pradesh's future," he said.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was unmindful of the plight of people, farmers and youth, said Nath, a nine-time member of the Lok Sabha from Chhindwara, when asked about Chouhan's remark that he was not scared by Nath taking over the state Congress's reins.

 

"Chouhan is not even frightened of people, farmers and the youth. His words do not count for me," Nath said.

The state Congress's election campaign committee chairman Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was by Nath's side, said the BJP-ruled state's economy was in ruins. "MP is under a debt of over Rs 2 lakh crore. This means every person in the state owes Rs 26,000," he said.

Earlier, addressing party workers after taking charge of the state unit, Kamal Nath said people were fed up with the BJP government, and he, along with Scindia and the Congress cadres, would ensure BJP's defeat in the coming elections.

"75 per cent of the state's economy is agrarian, but farmers and others associated with it are not happy with the government," Nath said.

He also recalled his long association with the Gandhi family.

"I had the privilege of working with Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and now (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi who has given me this responsibility of strengthening the Congress in Madhya Pradesh," Nath said.

"The BJP government in MP organised several investor meets with a lot of fanfare, but no investment came," he said.

Scindia said in his speech that the Congress government will work for peasants, give employment to the unemployed and protect women's honour. The Guna MP slammed BJP leaders for making irresponsible statements on the recent rape cases that shocked the country.

Former chief minister Digvijay Singh said the BJP government had filed a large number of false cases of murder or attempt to murder against Congress workers, and the Congress leaders, when they come to power in the state, should look into them.

All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of Madhya Pradesh Deepak Babaria, outgoing state unit president Arun Yadav and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajay Singh also spoke at the meeting.

Earlier, Nath was given a grand welcome after his arrival at the airport. The former Union minister travelled in a huge procession to the party office 'Indira Bhawan', about 15 km away. The journey took nearly six hours.

Braving a scorching heat of 42.6 degree Celsius, Congress workers welcomed Nath by beating drums and dancing in the streets, causing traffic jams.

Scindia, Digvijay Singh and former Union minister Suresh Pachouri accompanied Nath in his vehicle.

Nath was last week appointed the MP Congress president to revive the party's fortunes in the state where it is out of power for over a decade.

The welcome he received here today is being seen as an attempt by the state Congress to give a message that it is united in the face of coming elections.