New Delhi: Jyotiraditya Scindia, one of the closest lieutenants of Rahul Gandhi, crossing over the BJP, left many baffled and surprised. However, the ‘insiders’ had an inkling that something of this sort was in the making, something was brewing for long.
Congress strongman & minister in erstwhile UPA government, once close to Gandhi family deserting the party, came as a body blow to the grand old party. Around 20-22 MLAs tendering their resignation soon after has put the Kamal Nath government in jeopardy.
Questions arises – didn’t the Congress high command see it coming? And, if it was aware, why didn’t it go the extra mile to arrest the colossal loss? A few Cong satraps brushed aside questions as to why the Cong veteran wasn’t pacified/persuaded to not abandon the party, when it needed his services the most.
What made Scindia say goodbye to Congress
The last straw or the trigger behind his move is said to be – denial of his nomination for Rajya Sabha and the chief of MP Pradesh Congress Committee.
However, Jyotiraditya Scindia’s real disenchantment with the Congress high-command began much before in 2018. Rahul Gandhi was Congress National President and Scindia, being his close aide, expected a clear and positive message for him in Madhya Pradesh, however, he got a raw deal.
In spite of giving strength to youth leaders, the Cong high command made Kamal Nath the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief before the assembly elections. And, after the party emerged victorious, Kamal Nath preceded over Scindia, taking over as Madhya Pradesh CM.
Ever since, sidelining of Scindia didn’t stop, rather it became systemic. His loyalists were denied berths in the Kamal Nath government while his recommendations in constituency-related issues were ignored or looked down. All this was enough to infuriate him.
Old guards cornered Scindia
Moreover, Cong old guards Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh ‘ganging up’ against him further deteriorated the status quo. Both made extra effort to stop Scindia’s bid to become state unit chief.
“The duo didn’t leave any opportunity to cold-shoulder/slight Jyotiraditya Scindia,” said one of Scindia’s close aides.
Kamal Nath and Scindia never saw eye to eye and with Digvijaya Singh backing another old guard by publicly attacking the latter did no good in soothing the already strained ties.
The 2019 LS elections dealt a striking blow to Congress, with Rahul Gandhi losing his own seat from UP. Scindia too lost out, his stature on state level diminished. He sought solace from party high command in form of RS seat or prominent role in state politics but was ignored.
Reports suggest that Scindia desperately tried to get a hearing from Sonia Gandhi but was routinely snubbed. Even, his warning to Kamal Nath govt to hit the streets over failure to waive off farm loans was met with sharp rejoinder.
Scindia’s resignation letter
The last issue which may have consoled Scindia was Rajya Sabha membership. Out of 3 RS seats being vacated in coming April, Congress could have sent 2 but here also, Scindia failed to make the cut. Kamal Nath and Digvijaya were reportedly the ones who crushed Scindia’s dreams.
Scindia chose to give final shape to the plan, which was in the works for last many months. Reports reveal that he was introduced to PM Modi and Amit Shah by a top BJP leader, almost two years back but things didn’t work out then.
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) March 10, 2020
More so, it’s evident from Scindia’s resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi, where he said, “This is the path that has been drawing itself out over the last one year.”
