"Will Teach Kamal Nath Lesson": Former MP, MLA Resign From Congress After First Madhya Pradesh List

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Monday (16 October) acknowledged the disappointment among certain ticket aspirants following the Congress' announcement of the first candidate list for the upcoming assembly polls scheduled for 17 November.

The state Congress chief said, "4,000 people have expressed their wish to contest the election, but we cannot give tickets to 4.000, so some people may get upset as of now. It is obvious for some to get disappointed. But later I believe they will keep serving the party."

According to Live Mint, Kamal Nath expressed optimism about the upcoming elections, noting that the voters of Madhya Pradesh are realising how they have been deceived and how the state has been made a 'Chaupat Pradesh' (deprived state).

While he tried to downplay the rebellion, a significant number of Congress leaders from various regions gathered outside Kamal Nath's residence in Bhopal on Monday after not receiving tickets in the first list of 144 candidates released on Sunday.

The list of leaders who revolted:

1. Congress leader Santosh Sharma from Budhni expressed displeasure over the party's decision to field Vikram Mastal (who joined party just a few months ago) from Budhni constituency against CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

2. Sharda Khatik from Sagar claimed to have resigned from the party after being denied a ticket from the Naryoli (SC reserved) assembly constituency. Surendra Choudhary, who lost in the last two elections, was given a ticket.

3. Yadvendra Singh from the Nagod constituency of Satna, resigned from the party, criticising state party chief Kamal Nath and vowing to teach him a lesson. He later joined Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

Singh has been contesting from Nagod since 2008 and won the election once in 2013. Dr Rashmi Singh Patel received the Congress ticket from Nagod this time.

4. Former Dhar MP Gajendra Singh Rajukhedi (elected in 2009 Lok Sabha elections) resigned from the party after not receiving a ticket.

5. Young Gurjar leader Kedar Kansana resigned from the party, vowing to contest the assembly elections. However, he is undecided about from which party he will contest.

6. Vice President of Congress Media Department Ajay Singh Yadav resigned from his post, citing injustice to people belonging to the backward classes.

7. State Mahila Congress president Vibha Patel reached Kamal Nath's residence, intending to discuss tickets for women candidates.

Several other Congress leaders across the state left the party after not receiving tickets for the upcoming assembly elections, with some pledging to teach a lesson to the party.

Kamal Nath countered the discontent by highlighting that the party gave 65 per cent of tickets to candidates below 50 years old in the first list of 144 candidates, with 16 women candidates included. He emphasised that he was contesting from Chhindwara as the party expected him to lead from the front.