A tug of war has commenced for two Rajya Sabha berths in Madhya Pradesh. Out of the three seats getting vacated in March 2020, one is certain to go with the BJP.

A common perception is that former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh would get re-nominated due to his proximity with high command and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Kamal Nath.

However, former Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who had been strong contender for the post of Chief Minister, who has been away from the party mainstream affairs for almost a year now, is willing to get Rajya Sabha nomination.

Congress insiders feel Scindia could be rewarded for his efforts in December 2018 state assembly polls by providing a Rajya Sabha berth.

After 15 years back in power, the Congress party is facing a lot of lobbying and pressure towards obliging regional, religious and gender lines. They are groups demanding a woman, a minority or from other smaller groups to get Rajya Sabha berth.

It is, however, the call of Central leadership to take a call on the selection.

Three Madhya Pradesh quota seats, held by Digvijay Singh, Prabhat Jha and Satyanarayan Jatiya, are going vacant in April 2020.

However, with Digvijay Singh, who also lost lok sabha polls in 2019, the road to Rajya Sabha does not seem a smooth ride for the Scindia royal scion.

Scindia had primarily been in sulking mode for the past one year after the party snatched chief ministership from him and instead handed it over to Kamal Nath after the Assembly polls. The former Union Minister Scindia had then shifted his focus to leading the party in the state as the PCC chief but the plan too was shelved by the party high command and Chief Minister Kamal Nath still continues to be the PCC president.

With the three Rajya Sabha seats going vacant, Scindia is said to be eyeing one of them to keep himself in thick of things in the politics.

Scindia who had been critical of Kamal Nath Government on several occasions has of late toned down significantly. In the last one month, the two senior leaders have been seen together twice, a marked improvement in their relations for many.