Congress enjoys a strong majority in the tribal-dominated state of Chhattisgarh, the party only has a slim margin in the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.
At a time when Congress governments seem set to take over the twin states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, early indications suggest that the road ahead may not make for a smooth ride for the two chief ministers.
A robust opposition, helmed by former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will only pose a part of the problem for MP CM Kamal Nath while adding to the woes of his yet unnamed counterpart in Chhattisgarh will be the presence of former chief ministers — Raman Singh and Ajit Jogi — on the opposition benches.
Though the Congress enjoys a strong majority in the tribal-dominated state of Chhattisgarh, the party only has a slim margin in the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.
Pre-poll promises, ranging from freebies and sops to a huge farm loan waiver, are bound to strain the already stressed state coffers; a prospect that is sure to upset the urban middle-class voter ahead of the looming Lok Sabha elections.
Silent through the election season, simmering faction feuds within the party will also require clarity of intention and close attention, failing which the possibility of turf wars coming to a boil cannot be discounted just yet.
Analysts say the chief ministers will have to balance all factions, regions and castes while drafting their councils of ministers, but the effectiveness of the ploy remains suspect as it may slow down the functioning of the governments at a time when they are expected to come out with their top guns blazing.
The two leaders will also be expected to fuel the growth of the party organisation in the two states where it has returned to power after a gap of 15 years.
The massive popularity of former BJP chief ministers — Chouhan in MP and Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh — will also remain a factor, especially, as both the leaders have ruled out possibilities of taking up new responsibilities outside their respective states just yet.
Providing a preview of things to come, Chouhan, while announcing his resignation, said he will work in the state to ensure a continuation of the welfare initiatives launched during his tenure.
Ostensible party aspirations of using the recent electoral victory in the two states to drive its growth in the heartland will further add to the anxiety of the two leaders.
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