Sonia Gandhi’s Return Could Revive Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh in Madhya Pradesh
Sonia Gandhi’s return as head of the Congress is expected to change the balance within the party in Madhya Pradesh, with many in Bhopal believing her appointment as interim president could strengthen Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s position both in the state and nationally.
Old guard versus young leaders
During Rahul Gandhi’s time as party president, younger leaders gained ground over long-trusted Gandhi family associates such as Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath. Since his resignation, the party has been seen as split between veterans and the younger generation.
Before the 2018 Madhya Pradesh assembly election, Rahul Gandhi had settled on Jyotiraditya Scindia as the chief ministerial choice. Kamal Nath, aided by his old friend Digvijaya Singh and backed by Sonia Gandhi, blocked Scindia and took the post himself.
Scindia and his supporters in the cabinet, such as Pradyuman Singh Tomar, who recently clashed with the Chief Minister over the sharing of power, have continued to challenge Nath’s standing.
What the change could mean
A Bhopal-based political analyst, who did not want to be named, said Nath was expected to regain influence now that Sonia Gandhi was back in charge. After the Lok Sabha defeat and amid uncertainty over Rahul Gandhi’s future, Nath had been unable to expand his cabinet. Rahul Gandhi’s charge that Nath and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had put their sons ahead of the party had also weakened him.
AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh could gain too. Over the past few years he had been stripped of responsibilities in Goa, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, leaving him with only Madhya Pradesh. He had led the party’s coordination committee during its 2018 assembly win, but lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election to the BJP’s Pragya Thakur, a first-time candidate facing terror charges.
Background
In the 2018 Madhya Pradesh election, the Congress won 114 seats, the BJP 109 and the BSP 2, and Kamal Nath became Chief Minister.
See also: Indian National Congress and state assembly members.
Originally published on 12 August 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.
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