Image credits - The Telegraph
In the midst of swirling speculations surrounding the possible defection of Congress MP Manish Tewari to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the seasoned politician has vehemently refuted such claims. Reports have emerged suggesting that Tewari, who represents the Anandpur Sahib constituency, may be contemplating a departure from the Congress, mirroring recent rumors surrounding his party colleague, former chief minister Kamal Nath, potentially defecting to the saffron camp ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
However, a source close to Tewari swiftly dismissed these rumors, labeling them as baseless and devoid of any truth. An unnamed source from the Congress, dismissed the speculations of Manish Tewari joining the BJP, labeling them as false and unfounded. The source emphasized Tewari’s dedication to serving his constituency and deemed the rumors unworthy of acknowledgment or clarification, categorizing them as rubbish.
Tewari, who was recently inducted into the Congress Working Committee (CWC) by Mallikarjun Kharge, has been a prominent figure within the party. Notably, he was also a member of the G23, a group of dissenters who advocated for significant reforms within the Congress organization in 2020. With a political career spanning over two decades, Tewari has served as a Union minister for information and broadcasting during the UPA 2.0 government led by Dr. Manmohan Singh.
The potential departure of Tewari from the Congress would undoubtedly be a significant setback for the party, which has been grappling with the exodus of several high-profile leaders in recent times. Figures such as Jyotiraditya Scindia, RPN Singh, Jitin Prasada, and Milind Deora have all parted ways with the grand old party, raising concerns about its internal cohesion and political trajectory.
Meanwhile, amidst the speculation surrounding Tewari, similar rumors have surfaced regarding the political future of former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath. Although Nath has remained tight-lipped about his next steps, his aide, Sajjan Singh Verma, has unequivocally denied reports of Nath switching allegiance to the BJP.
Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma dismissed any notions of Kamal Nath’s potential departure from the Congress fold, asserting that there was no question about it. Verma questioned how Nath could respond to such an unimaginable suggestion, highlighting Nath’s extensive political roles, including serving as a Cabinet minister, general secretary of the party, state Congress chief, and the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Verma affirmed that both Kamal Nath and Nakul Nath were staying put, with Nakul Nath slated to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Chhindwara.
Nevertheless, the fate of figures like Manish Tewari and Kamal Nath remains uncertain, leaving both the Congress and the BJP on edge as they navigate the complexities of Indian politics in the lead-up to the crucial Lok Sabha elections.
