Citing health reasons, former chief minister Kamal Nath has communicated his inability to campaign for the November 13 bypolls in Budhni and Vijaypur constituencies of Madhya Pradesh. The move is, however, being viewed as a bid to distance himself from the rough electoral battle ahead.

The absence of Kamal Nath from the massive public meeting of the Congress at Bherunda, in Budhni Assembly constituency, left party leaders surprised, especially as the Congress is desperately trying to put up a show of strength in this BJP mainstay seat.

Except for Nath, all other senior leaders were present during the meeting, including AICC General Secretary and in-charge for Madhya Pradesh, Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, PCC Chief Jitu Patwari, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, Sajjan Singh Verma, and former PCC Chief Arun Yadav.

Since this meeting was scheduled weeks in advance, Nath attempted to quell speculations over his absence by taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday to communicate his inability to participate in the campaign for the two bypolls—the first since the 2023 Assembly Elections in the state—due to health reasons.

Political observers feel that Nath has deliberately distanced himself from the campaign, as he never campaigned in Budhni except in 2018, when Arun Yadav was the Congress candidate against former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. In 2023 too, he did not campaign in this constituency, even though he did visit the Salkanpur temple, in the constituency, to offer prayers.

While talking to The Pioneer, Madhya Pradesh Congress media in-charge Mukesh Nayak said that he was in Jharkhand, but he was aware that Nath remained absent due to health reasons and would soon join the electioneering for the by-elections.

The campaigning in Budhni is in full swing, as all the senior leaders are visiting regularly. On Tuesday, AICC General Secretary and in-charge of Madhya Pradesh, Bhanwar Jitendra Singh also visited Budhni and addressed a huge gathering, besides PCC Chief Jitu Patwari and a host of party leaders.

Former chief minister Digvijay Singh and Arun Yadav are among those spearheading the party campaign in the poll-bound Budhni and Vijaypur constituencies of the state.