Scindia Function To Set Stage For Attack Against Digvijay Singh

The stage is set for another attack against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh today - this time by Madhavrao Scindia, who is to address a function in Bhopal. Scindia and Arjun Singh, both senior state leaders, have formed an axis against Digvijay Singh.

Arjun Singh had made a critical statements against the Chief Minister on March 5. Both senior leaders are deeply upset with Digvijay Singh, since he acted against their loyalists when they had left the party after revolting against former party chief PV Narasimha Rao. Arjun Singh in particular feels that he was stabbed in the back by Digvijay Singh, who was his protege and had promised to back him when he split the party in May 1995. Digvijay Singh then argued that his government would fall if he sided with Arjun Singh openly and so asked his mentor to wait until he consolidated the support of more MLAs and then crossed over. He consolidated his support but stayed with Rao.

At the moment, Digvijay Singh appears to have the support of VC Shukla, but party leaders from the state say his elder brother, SC Shukla, may join the Arjun Singh-Madhavrao Scindia axis. That would be a combination of the three heavyweights in the states politics before Digvijay Singh became a major player in his own right.

At the national level, the Chief Minister appears to have the support of the partys Lok Sabha floor leader Sharad Pawar. Party president Sitaram Kesari has not indicated support to either side but those who are opposed to Digvijay Singh are encouraged by the fact that he has not reined in Arjun Singh or Scindia.

A number of other leaders in the state are ranged against Digvijay Singh. These include his deputy chief minister, Subhash Yadav, and MPs Ajit Jogi, Dilip Singh Bhuria and Aslam Sher Khan. These MPs say they are not part of the Arjun Singh-Scindia axis but have openly criticised the Chief Minister. Jogi had some months ago run a potent campaign against Digvijay Singh over his move to bring De Beers to mine for diamonds.