When asked what were reasons behind Congress government in Madhya Pradesh led by Kamal Nath lasting for just 15 months AI tool Grok much in news these days says there were many. The following is exactly what comes as a reply from Grok:
The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, led by Kamal Nath, lasted only 15 months from December 2018 to March 2020 due to a combination of internal and external factors that destabilized its fragile hold on power. Here are the key reasons:
- Lack of a Clear Majority: In the 2018 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, Congress won 114 seats in the 230-member house, falling two seats short of a simple majority. It formed the government with the support of two Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs, one Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA, and three independent legislators. This coalition was inherently unstable, relying on external allies who could shift loyalties.
- Jyotiraditya Scindia’s Defection: The most decisive blow came in March 2020 when Jyotiraditya Scindia, a prominent Congress leader, defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with 22 loyalist MLAs. This mass resignation reduced the Congress-led government’s strength below the majority mark, triggering its collapse. Scindia’s exit was fueled by his frustration over being sidelined—particularly after being denied the chief minister’s post in favor of Kamal Nath and later a Rajya Sabha nomination—exposing deep internal factionalism within the state unit.
- Internal Party Conflicts: The Madhya Pradesh Congress was plagued by infighting between senior leaders like Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh, and Scindia. Scindia’s ambition to expand his influence beyond his Gwalior-Chambal stronghold clashed with the dominance of Nath and Singh, creating a power struggle. This disunity weakened the party’s ability to govern cohesively and respond to political challenges.
- BJP’s Political Maneuvering: The BJP, which had ruled Madhya Pradesh for 15 years prior to 2018, was quick to capitalize on Congress’s vulnerabilities. After narrowly losing the 2018 election with 109 seats, it remained a formidable opposition. The BJP allegedly engineered Scindia’s defection—often termed “Operation Lotus”—by offering him and his supporters incentives, including ministerial positions and Rajya Sabha seats, to topple the government and reclaim power.
- Failure to Fulfill Promises: The Congress campaigned heavily on promises like farm loan waivers, which Kamal Nath partially implemented for 27 lakh farmers. However, delays and incomplete execution—due to fiscal constraints and administrative hurdles—drew criticism and eroded public trust. Scindia publicly clashed with Nath over this issue, threatening to protest if promises weren’t met, further highlighting the government’s instability.
- Timing and External Pressure: The government’s fall coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, adding pressure on an already shaky administration. The BJP moved swiftly to consolidate power, with Shivraj Singh Chouhan returning as chief minister on March 23, 2020, after the resignations forced Kamal Nath to step down without facing a floor test.
In summary, the Congress government’s brief tenure was marked by a fragile coalition, internal discord, and the BJP’s strategic opportunism, culminating in Scindia’s defection as the tipping point. This episode underscored the challenges of maintaining power in a politically competitive state without unity and a stable majority.
