"Kamal Nathji has been given cold shoulder by Congress": Party leader Deepak Saxena

Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh) [India], February 18 : Amid speculations of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath, along with his son Nakul Nath, joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former Madhya Pradesh Minister and Congress leader Deepak Saxena said that Nath has been given a 'cold shoulder' by the grand old party since its defeat in the state assembly polls.
"Kamal Nathji has been given a cold shoulder by the Congress party. This is why development in the Chhindwara constituency has been suffering from impediments. The public wants him to join the Bharatiya Janata Party so that the constituency can be brought on the path of development," Saxena told ANI.
"He has been neglected by the party since its defeat in the state assembly polls. The party has been blaming him for its failure in the polls, whether it is about snatching from him the post of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chief or not nominating him for the Rajya Sabha," he added.
Saxena further said that the core committee of the party, involving senior party leaders in the Chhindwara constituency, has decided that he should go ahead and join the BJP in case he is continuously neglected by the Congress.
"Kamal Nathji was in a decisive position in the party, be it Indira Ji's or Rajeev ji's. Our core committee, involving senior party leaders in the district, has decided that he should go ahead and join the BJP in case he is continuously neglected by the Congress," he said.
Saxena is a close aide of the senior Congress leader.
The Congress, after its abysmal performance in the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, had removed Kamal Nath from the post of PCC Chief and appointed Jitu Patwari.
Meanwhile, he is also said to have become disgruntled after the party did not nominate him for the Rajya Sabha.
Former Congress leader and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Chief Ghulam Nabi Azad, meanwhile, widened the rift, stating that the grand old party does not seem to care about its people.

"I do not know where he (Kamal Nath) is heading. But if he is leaving the Congress party, it indicates that the party leadership does not understand why the people who laid the foundation of the party are bent on leaving it. The Congress apparently doesn't seem to care about its people," he said while speaking to ANI.
Congress leader Vikram Ahake, however, sought to play down the reports, stating that it was too soon to comment on them.
"It is too soon to say anything about it. It is evident that we will see a change in the coming times, which will decide the picture and fate of Chhindwara. But Kamal Nathji is a prominent leader, if he has decided to do something, that must be in the spirit of the development of Chhindwara," he told ANI.
Political circles were abuzz on Saturday amid speculation that former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath may join the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
The development comes as Kamal Nath and his son Nakul Nath, who is Chhindwara MP, reached Delhi on Saturday.
The speculations turned rife after a post shared by former Congress leader and BJP state spokesperson Narendra Saluja showed a picture of Kamal Nath with Nakul Nath captioned as 'Jai Shree Ram'.
As of now, there has been no official confirmation from Kamal Nath's side. On being asked about his plans to switch sides, Kamal Nath rejected all the claims, saying the media would be informed "if there is something."
"Why are you all getting excited? It is not about denying. I will inform you all if there is something like that," said Kamal Nath on Saturday, while speaking to the media.
Earlier on Friday, while addressing a press conference in Bhopal, BJP state president VD Sharma also reacted to speculations and said that they had kept their doors open.
When asked about speculations of the Congress veteran joining the BJP, Sharma said, "So today I am telling you the environment, we have kept our doors open because there are people in Congress who feel that Congress boycotts Lord Ram, India has Ram in its heart. When Congress insults him, then some people are pained by this, who are upset, and they should get a chance."
"If those whose names you are taking have pain in their hearts, then they are also welcome," Sharma said.