The selection process sometimes turned acrimonious. In the end Nath managed to ward off the stiff challenges posed by Jyotiraditya Scindia. The race for the chief minister’s post was a lose one. After CLP authorised the Congress president Rahul Gandhi to take a final decision Nath and Scindia headed to New Delhi late on Wednesday night. Rahul’s residence in Delhi witnessed hectic parlays. As the logjam continued, Sonia Gandhi along with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra too reached Rahul’s bungalow to help reach a consensus. Sources claimed that Priyanka pitched for Scindia but could not succeed.

Nath will take oath of office on December 17 at Lal Parade Ground in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. Sources said that the cabinet would comprise an equal number of ministers from Scindia and Nath camps. As per the peace formula, important portfolios would be allocated to Scindia supporters.

Originally the Congress legislature party was to meet at 4 pm on Thursday. But it was postponed to 6.30, then to 8.30 and finally to 10.30 pm. The timing was changed because both Kamal Nath and Scindia were in Delhi. They reached Bhopal along with AK Antony at 10 pm and the CLP meeting concluded past midnight. After the meeting Kamal Nath addressed a press conference.

But from the morning till midnight supporters of Kamal Nath and Scindia staged their own shows. Even though icy winds brought down the temperature by several degrees in the state capital it could not soothe the political heat generated over the selection of the chief minister as bocth Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia stuck to their guns. The political scene shifted from Bhopal to New Delhi. As hectic deliberations continued in the national capital the supporters of Nath and Scindia sharpened the pitch for their respective leaders at the PCC office throughout Thursday. Wishing to see their leader as the new chief minister, the supporters stormed the PCC office. From the very morning the loyalists of the two leaders had gathered at the party office wielding swords against each other. For the entire day the two groups exchanged hot words and engaged in high decibel sloganeering.

State media president Sobha Oza appealed to the supporters to remain calm as the meeting was scheduled at the AICC office but in vain.

Meanwhile, allegations and counter allegations are being hurled in the BJP while analysing the causes of the defeat of the party and individual candidates. Some of the defeated candidates are using unparliamentarily language while blaming rival party men. Angry words were exchanged between former finance minister Jayant Malaiya and rebel BJP leader Ramkrishna Kusmaria. Talking about his motive behind contesting against Malaiya, Kusmaria said “I wanted to teach a lesson as he had formed a caucus in the BJP. I was humiliated for 20 years in Damoh. Besides, he did not work for the development of Damoh. So I decided to transfer all the votes of my supporters in Damoh and Patharia to Congress and BSP candidates respectively”. He claimed that he successfully transferred 10-15,000 votes to Congress and BSP candidates in Damoh and Patharia. After a tough fight Jayant Malaiya lost by a margin 796 votes. Kusmaria polled only 1,133 votes. Rahul Singh of the Congress emerged winner with 78997 votes while Malaiya polled 78199 votes.

Talking to a group of reporters in Damoh on Wednesday Malaiya said “The party had given every thing to Kusmaria. What else does he want after becoming MLA, MP and even chairman of the Budndelkhand Development Authority?”

Another former minister Jaibhan Singh Pavaiyya alleged that he lost the election because the party men betrayed him and said he was ashamed of his party. (IPA Service)