KAMAL NATH CORNERS MAXIMUM TICKETS, LIKELY CM IF CONGRESS WINS

gress is,” a senior party spokesperson said. The fact that party veteran Digvijaya Singh is supporting Kamal Nath in the internal squabbling is an open secret in Congress corridors. Though Singh has announced that he is not a CM aspirant, his support is crucial for Nath to do well in the elections as the former Chief Minister is still very popular among the party workers. Singh’s popularity was amply evident during the six-monthlong Narmada Yatra that he recently undertook.

“It is evident that Singh and Nath are working closely with each other and Scindia is not a part of this group. However, all three are mature politicians and feel that the Congress this time has a very strong chance of capturing power. Nath is fully dedicated to winning the polls as he knows that it is his last shot at the CM’s chair, something which he has always wanted,” a Scindia confidant said.

With the Congress hoping of doing well on 130 plus seats in the 230-member Assembly, it will finally depend on which leader has the support of the maximum number of MLAs in the event of the party mustering a majority and looking for someone to occupy the coveted post. The party has given tickets to 52 out of its 57 sitting MLAs, while reposing faith in more than 50 candidates who had lost in 2013.

“Rahul Gandhi has shown that he takes practical decisions and hence all the regional leaders are trying to ensure that the maximum number of their loyalists get tickets. If Congress passes the halfway mark and Nath has the support of more than half of the winning MLAs, no one can stop him from becoming the Chief Minister,” the party functionary said.