MP Congress power tussle plays out in Delhi over tickets

So much so that Rahul is learnt to have entrusted three top leaders — Ahmed Patel, Ashok Gehlot and M Veerappa Moily — to sit with the Madhya Pradesh leaders to sort out the differences. The leaders sat till well after midnight on Wednesday and continued discussions through the day on Thursday to narrow down differences over candidates in several states.

The Congress high command had followed the tradition of not projecting anyone as the chief ministerial face in Madhya Pradesh, which makes the race for the top post open in the event of the party emerging victorious in the elections. Given that, ticket distribution is crucial as leaders want to field those close to them in as many seats as possible.

While Singh had ruled out vying for the chief minister’s post, he is known to be not on the same page as Scindia on several issues. Singh had thrown his weight behind Kamal Nath for the PCC president’s post — a strategic alliance aimed at edging out Scindia. Round two of that battle, sources said, is being played out over selection of candidates.

Singh denied reports that there was a spat between him and Scindia at the CEC meeting. “It is being wrongly reported in press that I and Jyotiraditya Scindhia ji had any arguement and Rahul ji had to intervene. All of us in MP Congress are one and determined to defeat the corrupt BJP Govt in MP,” he tweeted.

Sources present at the CEC meeting confirmed there was no consensus over candidates in many seats. “There were multiple names in several seats. The CEC asked them to evolve a consensus and come with one name as far as possible,” a CEC member told The Indian Express.

Meanwhile, the BJP’s central election committee is learnt to have finalised candidates for around 150 seats. Sources in the BJP confided that a few of the sitting MPs may also be fielded.