BHOPAL: Is senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia peeved with his long-time follower and minister for transport and revenue Govind Singh Rajput? State Congress is vehemently denying any such rift between Scindia and the minister. However, sources in the party said that a series of incidents have happened after which Govind Singh Rajput has lost his position of privilege with the senior leader who pushed his case for a cabinet berth in the Kamal Nath government.

"There is no such rift, this is only an illusion. Jyotiraditya Scindia and Govind Singh Rajput are experienced leaders," state PCC spokesman Ravi Saxena told TOI. "They are very mature politicians and there cannot be any such difference between them."

On Monday evening, Scindia reached the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain to perform a puja of the deity's palanquin. With him was seen minister for health Tulsiram Silawat, one of the seven ministers from the Scindia faction in the Kamal Nath government. Govind Singh Rajput reached the venue 15 minutes prior to the arrival of Scindia who met party workers but ignored the minister. When Scindia entered the Gopal temple premises, the doors were shut behind him and Tulsiram Silawat.

Govind Singh Rajput was left standing outside. His efforts to reach Jyotiraditya Scindia proved futile and he was given cold-shoulder. Sources in the state Congress said that when Scindia later reached a five-star hotel in Indore, Govind Singh Rajput followed him there. He waited till 2 am in the lobby. No one could say if the two met but in the morning when Scindia left Indore, he was accompanied by Tulsiram Silawat at the airport.

A senior state Congress office-bearer said that Rajput among some party leaders had opposed Scindia's decision to support the Narendra Modi government's decision to withdraw Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir . On August 6, Scindia had tweeted, "I support the move on #JammuAndKashmir & #Ladakh and its full integration into union of India. Would have been better if constitutional process had been followed. No questions could have been raised then. Nevertheless, this is in our country's interest and I support this."

Party sources said that in a congregation of party colleagues, Govind Singh Rajput had questioned Scindia's tweet which he thought was against other Congress leaders' stand. State Congress leaders also said that Govind Singh Rajput who once complained that chief minister did not listen to him, suddenly came close to Kamal Nath after this statement.

To add more fuel to the fire, a billboard appeared in Ujjain on Monday in which Scindia's name was mentioned below Govind Singh Rajput. The banner which had Scindia's photo on top said, "Revenue and transport minister, Hon Govind Singh Rajputji, Tour of Indore and Ujjain today. On 26th August 2016, time 4:30 pm in Indore. And evening 7:00 in Ujjain. Will be with honourable Jyotiraditya Scindiaji in the Shahi sawari."

Asked about the rift, an irate Govind Singh Rajput said, "Jyotiraditya Scindia is our leader. Don't know what instrument the media possesses to measure anger. You must show it to me." Minister for health Tulsiram Silawat tried to pacify the situation. He said, "There is no anger or difference. Govind Singh Rajput is like our younger brother and he was also there in Ujjain during the puja." TOI tried repeatedly to reach Congress leader Scindia for his comment but failed to reach him.

