Amid controversy over 1984 involvement, Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath signs off on farm loan waiver

On the very same day he took oath as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath stood by his party's biggest pre-poll promise and put pen to paper to waive off the farmer loans of Rs 2 lakh each in the state.

The Congress party, which came to power in the state of MP after the recently concluded polls, had promised in their election rallies that it would completely waive off farmer loans should it form the next government. And moments after he officially became the CM, Kamal Nath signed on the files to fulfill his promise.

Kamal Nath and Congress won 114 seats in the recently concluded state polls, falling two short of the halfway mark. Yet, they were able to stake claim to form the government after support from BSP, SP and Independents, who had combined won seven seats. In the aftermath of the election result, the BJP, which had won 109 seats, challenged the Congress party to back their poll campaign promises by delivering on the farm loan waiver.

READ: Kamal Nath Sworn In As Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister

Outgoing CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was in power since the past 15 years, said, "Rahul Gandhi has promised to waive farmers' loans within ten days of coming to power or change the chief minister. They must fulfill his promise."

The Congress on Thursday, December 14 named Kamal Nath, the nine-time Lok Sabha member from Chhindwara, to head the State Congress Legislature Party, after hours of hectic parleys held by party president Rahul Gandhi with senior party leaders.

Kamal Nath, who has held several portfolios in the Union Cabinet, was appointed the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee president on April 26 and was at the forefront in steering the party to a win in the November 28 Assembly polls. The results were declared on December 11.

Those present at the swearing-in ceremony included Rahul Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, AICC general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his deputy Sachin Pilot, MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.

(With inputs from PTI)