New equation in MP Congress

Bhopal, Sep 28 (UNI) In a major political development, polarisation is emerging afresh in Madhya Pradesh unit of Congress ahead of next year's Assembly election with two prominent leaders - Union Minister of State for Personnel and Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachouri and Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia - joining together.

''The way Mr Pachouri came out openly in defence of Mr Scindia after a police case was filed against the latter in Shivpuri district, gave indications that both will play a new role in the party affairs in state'', said political observers.

The Union Minister had hurriedly called a press conference here last night to condemn the 'unfortunate' incident and also threatened to launch a public agitation if the case under section 506(b) IPC was not withdrawn.

By bestowing the responsibility of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh to Mr Digvijay Singh, the Congress leadership indicated that there would no interference from the former Chief Minister in the state's politics, the observers said.

The Scindia-Pachouri equation is likely to scuttle the attempts of a strong lobby to project Union Minister Arjun Singh's son and PCC Vice President Ajay Singh as the chief ministerial candidate.

Though a senior MP from the state, Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath is least interested in taking a leading role in state's politics.

Observers opine that like late Madhavrao Scindia, Jyotiraditya would prefer to play a key role in national politics while maintaining a decisive edge in state politics as well.

UNI