Congress MLA’s call for tribal CM in MP riles Kamal Nath, BJP chimes in

Responding to Umang Singhar, Nath, the state Congress chief Kamal Nath, says, “Only he (Singhar) knows what is his target...There is a system and tradition in our party for deciding the CM.”

Reacting to the statement, Kamal Nath said on Monday that the party had a system for choosing its CM candidates. (File)

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In what may cause embarrassment to the Congress, Congress MLA Umang Singhar from Madhya Pradesh’s Gandhwani constituency has raised the demand for a tribal chief minister. The remark deviates from the party’s position that former CM Kamal Nath will be its CM candidate in the Assembly election slated for later this year.

Singhar made the demand at a programme organised in Badnawar town of Dhar district on Sunday. “Do you all want MP to have a tribal CM? Then don’t sit back home till MP has a tribal CM. I’m not talking about myself, I’m speaking for my community…I’m not endeared to politicians, but I am loved by tribals. I talk and fight for the cause of tribals, which is why many people are offended by me. But I’m not one to be scared,” said Singhar, a former state minister. He is also the nephew of the late Jamuna Devi, who was the Deputy CM in the Digvijaya Singh-led Congress government between 1998 and 2003.

Reacting to the statement, Kamal Nath said on Monday that the party had a system for choosing its CM candidates. “Everyone has his thoughts, only he (Singhar) knows what is his target through the statement. There is a system and tradition in our party for deciding the chief minister. Look who are the CMs in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh,” Nath said.

Former Congress minister Sajjan Singh Verma has targeted the MLA saying since there is freedom of speech in the Congress, some leaders are taking advantage of it and issuing such statements. Before making such statements, Singhar “should visit those areas where tribal people are living,” Verma said. He added that Singhar “should go to tribal areas to strengthen the party”.

The MLA’s demand for a tribal CM has threatened to change the electoral messaging of the Congress, which has been trying to corner the BJP over atrocities against the Adivasi community, including the recent incidents of rape of tribal women and the urination incident in Sidhi in which a man allegedly linked to the BJP urinated on a tribal man.

The BJP, however, latched onto this incident and has tried to portray the statement as an “internal fight for the leadership of the Congress”. The BJP’s state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said, “We’re convinced about what Umang says, he is the same man, who, while being a Cabinet minister in the erstwhile Congress government, had bravely and openly spoken the truth about ex-CM Digvijaya Singh running the then-Kamal Nath government from behind the curtains. Now, he has dared to speak another bitter truth about how the Congress has repeatedly sidelined the true tribal leaders. We salute Umang for speaking the truth.”

State BJP President VD Sharma said, “It is Umang Singhar’s agony. As far as the BJP is concerned, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country got its first president from the tribal community after 75 years of independence.”

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BJP spokesperson Dr Hitesh Bajpai said, “The Congress is not accepting Kamal Nath. They feel nothing much can be done under his leadership. That’s why the ambitions of leaders are coming out. This is an internal fight for the leadership of the Congress.”

Of the state’s 230 Assembly seats, 47 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes. In the 2018 Assembly elections, the Congress won the Assembly on the back of its performance in these reserved constituencies, winning 30 while the BJP bagged 16. In the 2013 Assembly elections, the BJP powered its way to victory by winning 31 seats while the Congress picked up 15.

To date, Raja Naresh Chandra Singh, who served as CM of undivided MP for 13 days, is the sole tribal CM of the state.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More