Kamal Nath, a Congress veteran and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, may join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the next 48 hours, sources within the saffron party told News18 on February 17.
The speculations turned rife after Nath's son, Nakul Nath, hinted at a possible exit from the Congress as he removed his links to the party from his social media bio.
On being asked if he is joining BJP, Kamal Nath said, "Why are you all getting excited? It is not about denying. I will inform you all if there is something like that..."
The development comes a day after Madhya Pradesh BJP president VD Sharma said that the party's doors are open for Congress leaders who are upset with the party rejecting the the invitation for the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Ayodhya's Ram Temple.
On being asked about speculations of Kamal Nath joining the BJP, VD 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 there are people who are pained by this, who are upset, and they should get a chance."
Earlier today, BJP spokesperson Narendra Saluja posted a photo of the former Chief Minister and his son with the caption "Jai Shri Ram".
Sources close to Kamal Nath, meanwhile, told NDTV that he is unhappy with what is happening in the party and feels that it isn't the same organisation that he had joined over four decades ago.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, however, said that he is confident Kamal Nath would never leave the party.
“He is the person who started his political career with the Nehru-Gandhi family. You cannot expect that person to leave Sonia Gandhi and Indira Gandhi’s families,” Singh said.
In a big setback for the Congress party in Madhya Pradesh, several leaders, including former MLA Dinesh Ahirwar and Congress District President from Vidisha Rakesh Katare joined the BJP on February 12.
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