OF HARDIK ‘SWAGAT’ & ‘WILTING’ KAMAL
Govind Singh to replace him
The Congress on Thursday went out of its way to project a picture of bonhomie with sulking leader Hardik Patel, turning up in strength for his father’s death anniversary and asserting that he had a crucial role in the party. With Hardik’s list of BJP invitees largely staying away, the Patidar leader returned the favour by saying it could be said that the issues he had with the Congress had been resolved. “Our aim is to form a Congress government in 2022 (the coming Assembly elections), and Hardik Patel will have a key role in it,” Raghu Sharma, the in-charge of the Congress in Gujarat, said. Asked about Hardik’s statements expressing unhappiness within the party, he added: “Hardik is the future and an inseparable part, strong pillar of the Congress. He will continue to work for the party, his future is bright.”
While Hardik also invited top Gujarat BJP leaders for the Thursday event, including CM Bhupendra Patel and state president C R Paatil, the only BJP leader of significance who came was former Viramgam MLA Tejashree Patel.
C
ongress leader Kamal Nath resigned as the Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday. The Congress high command has accepted his resignation. The party in a statement said Dr Govind Singh will take over as the new Congress Legislature Party leader of Madhya Pradesh after Nath’s resignation from the post.
“This is to inform you that the Honourable Congress President accepted your resignation from the post of Leader, Congress Legislature Party, Madhya Pradesh with immediate effect. The party wholeheartedly appreciates your contribution as the CLP Leader, Madhya Pradesh,” All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary K C Venugopal said in a letter to Nath. Kamal Nath served as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister for about 15 months
after winning the state Assembly elections in 2018. However, the Congress was ousted out of power in March 2020 after a political turmoil in the state following a slew of resignations by sitting MLAs. Nath then assumed the post of Congress Legislature Party leader in July 2020.