The newly established unity among regional satraps of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh has come to an end over ticket distribution for the November 25 Assembly elections.
Soon after the unity was distorted among the satraps, one faction led by State Congress president Kantilal Bhuria knocked doors of party president Sonia Gandhi and sought her intervention in the issue.
The Madhya Pradesh Congress is again divided into two major groups, both the Union Ministers from the State Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia have reportedly joined hands and former Union Minister and former State president Suresh Pachouri seems to be going with this faction. On the other hand, leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Ajay Singh has joined hands with Bhuria. This Bhuria-Ajay camp is reportedly having the backing of former Chief Minister and party general secretary Digvijay Singh.
Fissures started appearing in the Congress unity over ticket distribution to their followers on Tuesday and the conditions went to such an extent that Bhuria left the meeting of screening committee in between. On Wednesday, Bhuria and Ajay Singh called on Sonia Gandhi and complained against Kamal Nath and Scindia.
Party sources informed that the dispute among the senior party leaders is over distribution of tickets on two dozen Assembly constituencies where consensus could not be attained. The satraps are adamant over getting ticket for their followers in these constituencies. The Assembly seats on which consensus could not be reached include Neemuch, Ujjain South, Ujjain North, Jawad, Gwalior East, Silwani, Shahdol, Indore 5, Pawai, Seoni, Jhabua, Bhopal Central, Bhopal Narela, Khandwa, Dewri, Sagar and other sum up to about two dozen including these seats.
Sources said that the leader of Opposition is angry over Kamal Nath and Scindia’s interference in ticket distribution. Bhuria is furious over Nath’s recommendation for two of his supporters who had earlier misbehaved with him openly during a rally and were later suspended for indiscipline but were later admitted to the party under pressure from Kamal Nath. Now Nath wants tickets for both of them from Devri and Sagar seats, but Bhuria is strongly against them.