There was as general complaint that the problems raised by ruling party legislators remained unsolved. Kamal Nath did not give enough attention to the party workers. Several legislators publicly complain that the government officials do not listen to them.

The Congress in its “Vachan Patra” promised several welfare and policy measures, but most of them remained unfulfilled. The most significant failure was that he did not take steps to weaken the strong base of the BJP which it built during 15 years of its rule. For example the BJP government lifted the years old ban on the government servants preventing their participation in the RSS activities. He also failed to stop the pension being given to MISA detainees. Quick steps were not taken to punish the guilty of VYAPAM scam. Prima facie several powerful BJP leaders were found to be guilty in the scam.

Accusing finger were also raised against former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh. Singh also treated the Scindia family as rivals. Digvijaya Singh’s “mini-state” was part of Scindia empire during the British Raj. Even when Madhav Rao Scindia was alive, their rivalry was visible. This rivalry reached new high after Congress came to power in November 2018. It can’t be denied that it was due to combined efforts of Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia that after 15 years “Vanvas” Congress came back to power. Scindia’s grievance was that the booty of the victory was shared by Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh.

He was expecting that he may get state Congress president ship which was denied. Although his followers were given ministerial berths but he thought that it was not enough. He was also not treated well. On one occasion he said that if the promises made in the “Vachan Patra” (a sort of manifesto) are not fulfilled he will take to street. Kamal Nath treated this as a threat and responded in angry tone “If he wants to go on street he is free to do so”.

This was enough for him to think in the terms of saying goodbye to the Congress and slowly he started giving indications that he may leave the Congress. The first indication came when he supported lifting of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Then he also supported CAA. His followers in the Ministry also started talking in rebellious tone and one day suddenly it was learnt that his followers including Ministers have taken shelter in Bengaluru.

Then came the announcement that Ministers loyal to Scindia were resigning and he was leaving the Congress and joining BJP. The BJP welcomed him and initiated move to overthrow the Nath government. On the part of Congress, it also made concerted efforts to remain in power but in vain.

But Kamal Nath rejected all the charges made against him. Before going to Raj Bhavan to hand over his resignation Kamal Nath told the media “One Maharaja and his 22 accomplices, together with BJP murdered democratic values. People will never forgive these greedy persons who betrayed the state”.

Around 1.15 pm with the clock ticking on Supreme Court ordered floor test, the CM’s convoy rolled into Raj Bhavan where Nath handed over his resignation. “In 40 years of public life, I have always practised politics of cleanliness and given priority to democratic values. Whatever happened in the past two weeks in Madhya Pradesh is a new chapter in the devaluation of democratic values…I extend my good wishes to the new chief minister. He will always get my support for the development of Madhya Pradesh”.

As soon as Nath resigned, celebrations broke out in the BJP camp. “If a government topples due to their internal conflict, then we can’t do anything. You can see we were not in the game to form or topple a government” said former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Scindia tweeted: “I have always believed that politics should be a medium to public service, but the state government had deviated from this path. Truth has won again”.

Nath indicated that the fight is far from over, telling his MLAs: “I’ll be with you. We’ll be back in six months”. Soon after resigning Nath tweeted: “Today the hopes and beliefs of MP have been defeated. The gluttonous and avaricious have won. No one can win by crushing the self-respect of Madhya Pradesh.”

“BJP got 15 years, I got 15 months, but fulfilled 400 promises made in the Vachan Patra” Nath told media persons. “I have decided to give my resignation to the Governor. And there is just one reason- the principle and values that I follow don’t permit the politics of horse-trading”. I have practised clean politics” he said adding “People gave me five years to take the state on the right path, to give Madhya Pradesh a new identity. My efforts were to ensure that the state is no longer compared to smaller states of the county but the bigger ones”.

Nath argued that in the past 15 months, every citizen has seen his government’s public welfare politics and work. “In fear and panic BJP kept conspiring against our government. After our government was formed BJP began saying every 15 days that this is a ‘short term government’. They said they will unfurl the national flag on Republic Day. They started plotting from the first day but we still worked”. He reeled off a list of welfare schemes and policies implemented by his government.

BJP has treated fall of Kamal Nath government as a major political feat. Perhaps treating it his personal victory former chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan decided to hold a grand gala dinner at his residence. But due to mysterious reasons dinner was cancelled. It is rumoured that it was cancelled on the orders of party high command. Who will get the command of BJP government is likely to be decided on Monday. (IPA Service)