As Congress struggles to rein in factions of Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh and others, its Madhya Pradesh future looks bleak

The state Congress is dominated by two principal factions led by former chief ministers Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh. Both are seasoned political operators who command vast networks within the party, but their relationship has been fraught with an underlying rivalry. But these leaders and the other satraps in the party have publicly denied allegations of factionalism.

Nath, the Chhindwara MLA, brings administrative experience and financial clout but his base of loyalists is shrinking as many of his erstwhile supporters seek “greener pastures”. A senior leader in the Nath camp said, “Kamal Nath has contributed immensely to the party during his stint as the Congress president in Madhya Pradesh and the party can benefit from his guidance if his opinion is taken. He is a senior leader of the party and his opinion is not taken on many important issues, which has caused a rift.”

Veteran Congress leaders and former Madhya Pradesh CMs Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh. (Express archive photo by Anil Sharma)

Leaders close to Patwari, who was appointed the state chief in the aftermath of the 2023 Assembly poll loss, said Nath’s influence was on the wane. “His son lost his home base of Chhindwara (in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls). There were rumours that Nath would join the BJP, which damaged his political standing. His supporters are seeking greener pastures and many of them have come to Patwari’s camp,” a leader said.

Digvijaya Singh, on the other hand, remains a master of grassroots mobilisation and is often credited with his ability to weave caste coalitions that appeal to the state’s rural electorate. A leader close to his camp said, “Singh reportedly expressed frustration over the fact that Patwari does not listen to him. While Patwari has been trying to assert his authority as the state president, his relationship with Singh’s camp remains tenuous, with mistrust simmering beneath the surface.”

Singh, according to party leaders, poses a far greater challenge to Patwari who owes his rise up the party ranks to the Congress veteran. With former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia deserting the party, it is Singh who now holds the reins of the Gwalior-Chambal region for the Congress. “Singh has been communicating the rivalries of different camps to the central command and raising red flags but the bickering continues,” another leader said.

Other groups in the party

Then, there is the growing bonhomie between state Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar and former state Congress president Arun Yadav who are vying for relevance albeit with limited success. Yadav has seen his influence wane dramatically in recent years. He was not even given a ticket in the 2023 Assembly elections and has been out of the limelight since he lost in the 2018 Assembly polls to former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Budhni. Months ahead of the 2018 elections, he was dropped as state Congress president and replaced by Nath.

Singhar, a tribal leader, commands respect in his zone but “lacks broader appeal”. Sources said Singhar aims to cultivate a base of 50 young leaders over the next five years, a move that has been viewed with suspicion by the Singh and Patwari camps.

“Singhar has been meeting Arun Yadav and there is something brewing between them. There is talk of Singhar attempting to prop up his own youth leaders in the state who will challenge Patwari. Singhar has in the past made statements against Singh as well. It’s a three-way fight,” said a leader from Bhopal.

However, the Singh faction remains deeply entrenched and any attempt to “ditch Raja”, as Digvijaya is colloquially known, has been met with resistance from the party’s old guard, the leader said.

While Patwari and Singhar have publicly denied any animosity, insiders said their relationship was anything but cordial. Patwari’s recent reorganisation of the state unit, which included a revamp of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), sparked discontent among senior leaders.

Another confidant of Singhar said, “Chhatis ka aakda hai Patwari aur Singhar ke beech (There is a big rivalry between Patwari and Singhar). Ever since Patwari reconstituted the (state) Congress, Singhar’s men have barely got any positions. Patwari was more focused on developing his own team amid pressure from Nath and Singh. This will come to bite him in the future.”

Ajay Singh “Rahul”, the son of former CM and Union Minister Arjun Singh, represents a smaller faction, according to Congress insiders. Ajay’s influence is largely confined to his father’s former strongholds in the Vindhya region. However, despite his lineage, Ajay has struggled to emerge as a towering figure in his own right. His political trajectory has been eclipsed by the rise of younger leaders such as Sidharth Kushwaha, who has received backing from the Nath and the Digvijaya Singh camps. Ajay has openly voiced his grievance over being excluded from key party decisions.

Ajay has openly criticised Patwari for bringing in leaders “responsible for the party’s current condition”. The simmering tensions were evident during the party’s PAC meeting last November, where Patwari was met with protests and the absence of key senior leaders. Patwari, visibly emotional, broke down during the meeting.

The Congress has publicly defended Patwari’s remarks. “Patwari’s statements have been distorted. He wants to end factionalism and this was distorted for political means,” said party spokesperson Mukesh Nayak.