In Kamal Nath, BJP sees a chance to strike deep at Congress heart, and pocket

The likely entry of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, ex-Union minister and long-time Congress leader Kamal Nath into the BJP begs the question — what does the BJP, which defeated the Congress comprehensively in the recent state Assembly polls, gain from his anticipated entry?

As per a central leader of the party, the BJP had two important considerations. “One, that his entry into the Congress, close on the heels of former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan’s, will send the message that the Congress has collapsed so badly that it cannot even retain its ex-chief ministers. It will also underscore the BJP as the biggest political force of the country, far ahead of its rival,” said the leaders.

Two BJP insiders said the Congress, already cash-strapped after its shrinking political footprint, will also feel the loss of Kamal Nath’s fund-raising abilities.

BJP leaders expect the announcement of Kamal Nath’s entry to come soon after the ongoing BJP National Council meeting.

Referring specifically to Madhya Pradesh, a BJP state leader said Kamal Nath is expected to cross over with loyalists from his turf Chhindwara, as well as those belonging to Jabalpur and a few other places. That will reinforce the impression of a Congress in implosion in another state where it has been strong, particularly coming after the departure of leaders close to Jyotiraditya Scindia to the BJP in the Chambal division.

A state BJP insider pointed out that in MP, the Congress has always been a combination of three or four lobbies. Now the legacy of the late Arjun Singh has faded, Digvijaya Singh has got “discredited among common Hindus” due to his Hindutva remarks, while Scindia is already in the BJP, the leader said, adding that if Kamal Nath too leaves now,