Curious picks of the Congress party as CMs of Hindi heartland states

After days of suspense, deliberations and a torrent of speculations, the Congress Chief Minister-designates of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are set to take the oath of office on Monday.

For Madhya Pradesh, the Congress party has selected Kamal Nath for the post of Chief Minister. Kamal Nath’s political career has been marred with many controversies. Reportedly, he has been a serious offender of communal harmony and had also compromised with the national security. Kamal Nath has been accused of passing classified and sensitive information to US consul general. Not only that, but Kamal Nath has also been alleged in the ‘1984 riots’. The CM candidate of Congress party was caught on camera bashing Hindus while campaigning in Madhya Pradesh elections. In the video, he told to Muslim clerics that ‘Congress will surely deal with the Hindus after the election, for now, the Muslims should stand with the Congress.’

For more details: The deafening silence of the liberal cabal on Kamal Nath

In Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel’s name has been announced for the Chief Minister’s post. Bhupesh Baghel won the election from Patan constituency (Durg) in this election. Bhupesh Baghel got the attention of the national media when his close relative and senior journalist Vinod Verma was arrested by the Chhattisgarh Police in an alleged sex CD case in connection with the state Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Rajesh Munat. Vinod Verma was arrested from his residence in Ghaziabad over blackmailing and extortion. CBI, after an investigation for more than a year, filed a charge sheet in the court of special CBI judge Sumit Kapoor, who remanded the then state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel to 14 days of judicial custody.

In another instance, the State Economic Offenses Investigation Bureau registered a case against Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel under the Prevention of Corruption Act. His wife Mukteshwari and mother Bindeshwari were also accused in this case. Baghel is accused of having misused his position while being a member of SADA (Special Area Development Authority) and also in the Mansarovar scheme of Bhilai-3. He is accused of incorrectly allotting 6 plots each to his wife and mother. In 2014, the nephew of Baghel and BJP leader Vijay Baghel gave the complaint to EOW (Economic Offences Wing). It was pending in EOW for nearly 3 years. SP Arvind Kuzur told that a case has been registered against Baghel and his family of under sections 420, 120 B and corruption Act of the IPC.

Besides these two, 9 cases have been filed against the CM elect of Chhattisgarh. These cases are related to voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty (IPC Section-332), using forged document or electronic record (IPC Section-471), and armed with deadly weapon (IPC Section-148).

For Rajasthan, the Congress party has preferred senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot over a youth leader and hardworking Sachin Pilot. Gehlot as the CM of Rajasthan between 2008 and 2013 did several administrative blunders which ultimately caused his loss in the 2013 state assembly elections. In 2011, the Rajasthan government was accused of giving contracts and assets worth Rs 11,000 crore to firms with financial links to family members of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. There were also reports alleging the involvement of Ashok Gehlot’s brother in ‘fertilizer scam’ in Rajasthan. In the past, Ashok Gehlot has also faced allegations of favoring Robert Vadra’s companies.

The Congress choice of CM is quite ‘unique’. They appointed all the controversial figures as the CM despite the availability of many other better options. Many media houses and common voters who are feeling cheated after their respective leaders failed to get the top job of the state have also questioned the Congress’ choice of CMs.