Filke image of Digvijay Singh

BHOPAL: Race for position of state PCC chief got murkier on Monday with cabinet minister Umang Singhar accusing senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh of “running the government from behind curtains.”

“What I can say about honourable Digvijaya Singhji is that he is running the government from behind the curtains,” the cabinet minister said. “This everyone knows, the whole world knows. People of this state know of this and Congress workers know. There was no reason for him to write a letter. When he is running the government, why write a letter (to ministers)?”

Singhar seemed very peeved on Monday when was referring to a letter written by Digvijaya Singh to ministers. This letter from Digvijaya Singh’s office was sent to several ministers in the Kamal Nath government on Friday and got leaked.

Digvijaya Singh’s letter to the ministers said, “From January 2019 to August 15, 2019, I had forwarded applications for transfers and other matters to you. I had also asked you to let me know even if action on the applications is not possible. I want to meet you before August 31 to know if action was taken on the applications forwarded. Please give me time for an appointment before August 31, 2019.”

Sources said, minister for forests Umang Singhar -- a tribal Congress legislator and nephew of former deputy CM Jamuna Devi -- was a front-runner for state Congress president’s post but Digvijaya Singh’s intervention scuttled this opportunity in July.

After Sonia Gandhi returned as interim president of the AICC last month, candidates like Umang Singhar and other young ministers like Jeetu Patwari, Omkar Singh Markam seemed no longer in the forefront for the position. Names like former Union minister of state Jyotiraditya Scindia, former leader of opposition Ajay Singh and home minister Bala Bachchan emerged as leading candidates. Digvijaya Singh is now supporting the candidature of Ajay Singh, son of former Union minister Arjun Singh.

Umang Singhar also wrote a letter to AICC president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday alleging that Digvijaya Singh is plotting to derail the Kamal Nath government and himself wants to become the “power-centre”.

“Yes, I have written a letter to the Congress national president,” he admitted to reporters. “So, what is wrong with that?” Singhar asked.