'Indira Gandhi's Third Son...': MP Congress Chief Amid Buzz Over Kamal Nath Jumping Ship

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari highlighted Kamal Nath's political journey, stating that his rapport with the Gandhi family spans several generations.

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: Dismissing rumours of Congress veteran Kamal Nath defecting to the BJP, Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari recalled former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's affectionate regard for Nath as her “third son”, news agency PTI reported.

Speaking to the media, Patwari said that Nath's association with the Congress dates back to 1980 when he was first elected to the Lok Sabha.

“These talks about Kamal Nath are baseless. Indiraji had introduced Nath as her third son while addressing a public meeting (in Chhindwara) when he fought elections for the first time in 1980. Can anyone dream of Indiraji's third son quitting Congress,” PTI quoted Patwari as saying.

VIDEO | Here's what Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari said amid reports of senior party leader Kamal Nath joining BJP.

"The reports are baseless. One cannot even dream that Indira Gandhi's third son (referring to Kamal Nath) will leave the Congress. Every Congress… pic.twitter.com/oiKzmGckCZ

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 17, 2024

Patwari highlighted Nath's political journey, stating that his rapport with the Gandhi family spans several generations.

Refuting claims that Nath's alleged discontentment over not securing a Rajya Sabha nomination was driving him to mull leaving the Congress, Patwari clarified that Nath himself had proposed Ashok Singh's name for the Rajya Sabha nomination, which was unanimously accepted by party leaders.

"Kamal Nath proposed the name of Ashok Singh as the Congress nominee for Rajya Sabha which was endorsed unanimously by party leaders," PTI quoted Patwari as saying.

Patwari also reminisced about Nath's close bond with Sanjay Gandhi in the 1970s and his enduring relationship with the Nehru-Gandhi family, spanning several decades. He affirmed Nath's pivotal role in supporting and upholding the Congress ideology, asserting that his allegiance to the party remained unwavering despite recent political challenges.

The MP Congress chief further highlighted Nath's commitment to the Congress during political upheavals, such as when the government led by him was toppled after Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP in March 2020.

It is to be noted that Kamal Nath's arrival in Delhi earlier in the day sparked fresh speculation about his political allegiances, but he assured the media that he would inform them first if there were any developments on that front.