BHOPAL, June 8: The run-up to the Congress organisational polls have revealed Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh as a shrewd politician. Making the right moves, he had consolidated his position to an extent where he can dictate terms for the election of the PCC chief.

Emerging as a master tactician, Digvijay also played his cards adroitly in the bitter war between candidates for the party president.

Although he declared his support for Sitaram Kesri, Singh made sure that he was not alienated from the other two candidates -- Sharad Pawar and Rajesh Pilot.

Known to share close ties with Pawar, Digvijay invited the former to lunch during his recent visit to the State. The meal was preceded by a closed-door meeting between Pawar and Digvijay. Sources said that the only outsider at the meeting was a trusted lieutenant of the Chief Minister. As soon as Pawar left, Digvijay made a public declaration on television that he would always remain with Kesri. He then reportedly contacted the Kesri camp in the Capital and reiterated his support. Not content with that, he also invited some local newspersons in the evening and announced his loyalty to Kesri.However, despite his public stand, he still met Rajesh Pilot when the latter was touring the State. After inviting him to tea, he arranged a meeting between Pilot and Arjun Singh, who is Kesri's principal campaigner.While Digvijay personally signed Kesri's nomination papers, Deputy Chief Minister Pyarelal Kanwar, who has lately emerged as Digvijay's man, signed the papers for Pawar's nomination.

Not ignoring the third candidate, Digvijay ensured that State Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mukesh Nayak, who has publicly proclaimed his loyalty to the Chief Minister, was the campaigner for Pilot.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.