By IANS,
Bhopal : Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath was Friday projected as the future chief minister of Madhya Pradesh by party leaders at a rally in Chhindwara.
Keen to dislodge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress, seen as faction ridden, decided to bring all state leaders on one platform in a show of unity at Chhindwara Friday.
But what took everybody by surprise was former state unit Congress chief Subhash Yadav’s proposal to contest the upcoming assembly elections under the leadership of Kamal Nath, describing him as the future chief minister before the people. This was seconded by former chief minister, Digvijay Singh, who gave the call for formation of a Congress government in the state.
“The rally was attended by almost all the senior party leaders including Kamal Nath, Digvijay Singh, Satyavrat Chaturvedi, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Suresh Pachauri, Jamuna Devi and others,” state Congress general secretary Rajiv Singh told IANS. Central minister Arjun Singh, however, could not attend the meet due to health reasons, but his son and MLA Ajay Singh was present.
National leaders like the party’s in charge for Madhya Pradesh and union Parliamentary Affairs State Minister Narayan Sami and Congress spokesman Veerappa Moily were also present.
The state-level convention, organised at the Dussehra Maidan, saw a huge gathering. Senior leaders took a pledge to form the next government in the state.
They said corruption would be the main poll plank against the ruling BJP.
The Congress leaders promised to waive off farmers’ loans for five years and provide free electricity up to 5 HP motors if their party is voted to power.
They also promised to implement the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission for state government staff and removing discrepancies in the Fifth Pay Commission.