Amid rumours of infighting in the Madhya Pradesh Congress, Kamal Nath resigned as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Thursday.
He will no longer be the Leader of the Opposition in the MP Assembly, but he will continue to be the State PCC chief.
Party president Sonia Gandhi accepted Nath’s resignation with “immediate effect”.
Making the announcement of his resignation at a press conference in Bhopal on Thursday, Nath said, “Hum sab mil ka aane waali chunotiyo ka saamna karenge (Together, we will face the challenges ahead).”
Dr Govind Singh, a senior Congress leader and MLA from Lahar constituency in Madhya Pradesh, has been appointed as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party.
In a letter dated April 28, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal wrote to Nath saying, “This is to inform you that the hon’ble Congress president has accepted your resignation from the post of Leader, Congress Legislature Party, Madhya Pradesh, with immediate effect. The party wholeheartedly appreciates your contribution as the CLP Leader, Madhya Pradesh.”
“Hon’ble Congress president has approved the proposal to appoint Dr Govind Singh as the Leader of Congress Legislature Party, Madhya Pradesh,” Venugopal said.
The infighting within the Congress in Madhya Pradesh has been going on for years. It was the same issue that led the exit of Jyotiraditya Scindia and the fall of the Kamalanth Government.
Now ahead of the Assembly elections, factionalism has started in the party. Former Union Minister Arun Yadav who served as the MP Congress president from 2014 to 2018 has taken the lead. Last month he had called on party chief Sonia and briefed the party leadership about the situation of the Congress in the State. The Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls are scheduled to be held towards the end of next year.