Congress Party observer AK Antony has announced that Kamal Nath would be appointed as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday. The 72-year-old leader is known as a master strategist and Gandhi family loyalist, with a distinction of representing the Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh for several terms.

He led the party from the front in the just-concluded Assembly elections and underlined the importance of unity for changing the fortunes of a divided Congress. "United we stand and divided we fall," was the message he underlined while asking the rank and file to give their best collectively. Nath became the game changer as he recognised that timing was important. Others simply followed his lead, realising the necessity of putting their differences at the back burner.

The Congress has secured the support of a total of 121 MLAs, including SP and BSP legislators as also of four independents, to cross the majority mark of 116 seats in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly.

However, Congress Party is yet to finalise the names of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh Chief Ministers.

Marathon meetings were held on Thursday at the residence of Congress President Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi in this regard.

Mr Gandhi held one-on-one meetings with the top contenders in Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. The Congress chief is likely to take a decision in this regard today.

It is worth to recall that newly elected Congress legislators of the three states had passed a resolution urging Mr Gandhi to take a final call on the Chief Minister names.

(Featured image : Moneycontrol)