Buzz over Nath son's shift to BJP grows

Speculation continued on Sunday over senior Congressman Kamal Nath and his son Nakul Nath's plans to leave the party, with both leaders not quelling rumours of a possible switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

- Saptarshi Das

Several loyalists of the father and son reached Delhi on Sunday and party functionaries aware of the developments said Nakul alone, and not Kamal Nath, could join the BJP on Monday along with MLAs from his camp.

A newly installed "Jai Shri Ram" flag hoisted atop Nath's residence in the Capital greeted reporters, who were told by the Congress veteran that he had not spoken to anyone in the BJP yet.

"I said yesterday [on Saturday] that if there is something like that, I will inform you all. I did not talk to anyone, Kamal Nath told the media.

Around half a dozen Madhya Pradesh lawmakers loyal to him reached Delhi as efforts were on by the Nath camp to get the support of 23 MLAs so that the anti-defection law does not come into play, said the party functionaries cited above.