Kamal Nath's aide Sajjan Singh Verma rules out Kamal Nath quitting Congress amid high speculation

Sajjan Singh Verma has said that both Kamal Nath and his son Nakul Nath will not switch to the BJP.

Indore: Kamal Nath's confidante Sajjan Singh Verma on Monday dismissed reports that the veteran Congress leader is considering a switch to the BJP, saying the question of whether the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister would quit the party in which he spent over 40 years was not up to is the order.

Verma said that both Kamal Nath and his son Nakul Nath are not switching over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and claimed that the latter will contest the Lok Sabha polls, likely to be held in April-May, from Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh if the Congressional candidate. His comments came amid growing speculation that Kamal Nath and his Lok Sabha MP son Nakul Nath might switch to the ruling BJP.

Sajjan Singh Verma talks to reporters

Speaking to reporters after meeting Nath at his residence here, Verma said he had a detailed discussion with the Congress veteran, who told him that he would soon hold a meeting in Bhopal to promote the success of the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to ensure.

“He (Nath) told me that 'I will call all Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee executives and discuss the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections. I asked about the media speculation about him, to which he said, 'Why should I answer an imaginary question?'” Verma said.

“I don't think I need to answer such imaginary questions. I have not told any media person that I would leave the Congress or compromise with the BJP. In that case I would have answered, but why would I answer an imaginary question?” Nath was quoted by Verma as asking.

He said that the question of whether Nath would leave the grand old party is not an issue.

“It is futile to think that the person who worked with Indiraji, Rajivji and Sanjayji, who is referred to as the third son of Indira (Gandhi), will leave the party. How can someone who spent 40 years in Congress go anywhere?” asked Verma.

Kamal Nath arrives in New Delhi

Nath arrived in Delhi on Saturday afternoon and during his brief interaction with reporters here, he asked them not to get excited. When asked if he was joining the BJP, Nath said, “If such a thing exists, I would inform you first.” An astute politician, Nath has worked with three generations of the Gandhi family. In 1979, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi described him as her third son.

Nath is said to be unhappy over not getting a Rajya Sabha berth and Rahul Gandhi is said to be angry with him since the Congress suffered a defeat in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections late last year.

Nath was replaced as chief of the party's Madhya Pradesh unit after its defeat in the Assembly polls in which the BJP retained power and won 163 seats in the 230-member House. The Congress managed to win only 66 seats.

(With input from agencies)