.jpg)
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari on Saturday termed the speculation that former chief minister Kamal Nath could cross over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as "baseless."
Addressing a press conference in Bhopal, Patwari said, "For the first time when Kamal Nath fought elections, then Indira Gandhi said that Kamal Nath is her third son...in the 45 years of political journey of Kamal Nath, in both our good times and bad times, he has been working with the party. For the last seven years, he is the Madhya Pradesh Congress chief. I still remember when Scindia toppled the Congress government in MP, all the Congress workers stood with Kamal Nath's leadership and ideology."
"I would like to request that the news that is speculated are baseless...can you imagine Indira Gandhi's third son leaving Congress? Can't think about something like that even in dreams...," Patwari told reporters.
Nonetheless, the arrival of Kamal Nath and his son, Chhindwara MP Nakul Nath, at Delhi airport on Saturday has added fuel to the speculation that the veteran Congress leader might join the BJP.
Meanwhile, on being asked if he is joining the BJP, Kamal Nath told reporters in Delhi, "Why are you all getting excited? It is not about denying. I will inform you all if there is something like that..."
Besides, close aide of Kamal Nath and Congress leader, Sajjan Singh Verma told ANI in Indore, "right there is just speculation."
"Three things work in politics- respect, insult and self-respect, when these are hurt a person changes his decisions...When such a top politician who has done a lot for Congress and the nation in the last 45 years, thinks of moving away from his party, then all three factors work behind it.
No decision has been made that Kamal Nath ji is going, right there is just speculation...," he said
Earlier, AICC in-charge of Madhya Pradesh Jitendra Singh also has said that he does not think that Nath would leave the Congress party and would be joining any other party.
"The way he (Nath) has worked in the organisation since the time of Sanjay Gandhi (Son of Indira Gandhi) till now and the way he has a long relationship with the Congress, I do not think that he will leave the Congress and join any other party," Jitendra Singh said.
