Congress holds ‘frank discussion’ over Madhya Pradesh election debacle

Congress leaders hold frank discussions on MP poll results; feedback taken on Leader of Opposition nominee. High Command gives Kamal Nath responsibility for 2024 LS polls, asks him to control and manage better to win seats.

Five days after the poll debacle in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress’ top leadership, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, and former president Rahul Gandhi, held a brainstorming session on Friday after which the party claimed that it held “frank discussions” on the results.

Shortly after the meeting held in New Delhi, the media advisor of Madhya Pradesh Congress chief and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath, Piyush Babele, reposted a news item claiming that Mr. Nath had been asked to “control and manage better” till the 2024 Lok Sabha election but there was no official confirmation.

“Congress High Command has given the responsibility to Kamalnath for Loksabha 2024. The party has asked to control and manage better to win seats in the LS election. :First News India reports,” the post put up by the user ‘Amock’ stated.

Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were the two States where the Congress’ performance was reviewed on Friday. In the recent round of Assembly elections in five States, the Congress lost three Hindi heartland States, including Rajasthan.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, AICC general secretary in charge for Madhya Pradesh, Randeep Surjewala, said that free and frank discussions were held about the results, with the shortcomings also discussed.

The party high command will take the feedback given by the legislators about the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly to be nominated by the party, he added.

Rumours had been doing the rounds about Mr. Nath’s future at the helm of the M.P. State unit following the party’s dismal performance in the November 17 election in which the Congress only won 66 seats. Questions had also been raised about Mr. Nath’s leadership in the run-up to the elections.