Kamal Nath appointed as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh

The Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee has chosen Kamal Nath, a senior leader and former Union Minister as the party's chief minister-designate, the party announced late on December 13.

The announcement puts to rest speculation regarding the party's choice as Jyotiraditya Scindia was also in the fray.

Our best wishes to Shri @OfficeOfKNath for being elected CM of Madhya Pradesh. An era of change is upon MP with him at the helm. pic.twitter.com/iHJe43AB9v

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— Congress (@INCIndia) December 13, 2018

Both the Congress and the BJP were locked in a close battle as the counting continued on December 11. Congress emerged as the single largest party with 114 seats, two short of the majority mark of 116 in a 230 member assembly. The BJP managed to win 109 seats.

Nath, who is also the chief of the Congress' state unit, wrote to Governor Anandiben Patel on December 11, staking claim to form the government in the state.

The party claimed it has the support of the independent candidates. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had earlier announced that they would be extending support to the Congress. BSP won two seats while SP one.

Read More| Kamal Nath: Rahul Gandhi’s confidant, Congress’ trusted 'backdoor negotiator'

Nath was first elected to the 7th Lok Sabha in 1980. In 1991, he was inducted into the Union Cabinet as a minister for environment and forests.

Between 1995 and 1996, he served as the minister of state for textiles with independent charge.

Nath served as the party’s General Secretary between 2001 and 2004, when Congress was in opposition during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government.

Read — Opinion | Will Kamal Nath as Madhya Pradesh CM impact Congress’ 2019 prospects?

When UPA 1 came to power, Kamal Nath was made the minister for commerce and industry. Upon re-election in 2009, he was given charge of the road transport and highways ministry. In a cabinet reshuffle two years later, Nath became the minister of urban development. Additionally, he was given charge of parliamentary affairs ministry the following year.

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