Kamal Nath blasts Scindia

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who put up a brave face throughout the fortnight-long crisis before his unexpected surrender, poured out his emotions in a 20-minute press conference before proceeding to hand in his papers to the Governor.

He singled out Jyotiraditya Scindia, the key character in the long drama preceding the fall of the Congress government, for special treatment. Scindia ended his 18-year association with the Congress to join the BJP and whisked away most of his supporters to Bengaluru to oust the Kamal Nath ministry.

"One ambitious and power-hungry Maharaja (Jyotiraditya Scindia, defeated in the last Lok Sabha elections from Guna) rejected by the public and his 22 greedy MLAs and the BJP conspired to kill democratic values (in MP)," Nath said. "People of the state won't forgive these greedy rebels (MLAs) who betrayed them," he added.

"No one could point a finger at me during the previous 15 years of BJP rule in Madhya Pradesh. I had never phoned Chief Minister or any minister for a favour. If I did it was for Chhindwara's development," Nath said.

"But during my 15-month rule, BJP didn't like people-centric works of my government. Right from day one the BJP tried to destabilise my government." Nath alleged that the 22 rebel Congress MLAs were kept captive in Bengaluru by the BJP.

A long motorcade accompanied him with all the remaining Cabinet ministers also joining him in tendering their resignations. That was apparently part of the optics. The council of ministers normally hands the resignations to the Chief Minister.

"I never indulged in politics of auction and horse-trading," Nath said. "I have practiced clean politics based on values, and the people stand witness to it. I took over the office of CM on December 17, 2018. I believe in politics of development. In my career I have pursued it. I was handed a mandate for five years to give a new identity to the state."

"BJP killed the democratic values with conspiratorial politics. I have proved my majority on the floor of the house thrice during my stint...but BJP betrayed the people of state by destabilising the government," he said.

Nath listed the accomplishments of his government during the past 15 months including the farm loan waiver and development of cow shelters. He claimed that 400 promises made in the election manifesto were completed in 15 months. He said that the BJP was scared of a performing government.