After Sonia Gandhi has been named as interim president of Congress party, many believe it could help Chief Minister Kamal Nath consolidate his position in Madhya Pradesh and nationally as well.

Like Digvijay Singh, Nath had remained a trusted lieutenant of Gandhis has always been close to 10 Janpath but after Rahul Gandhi was elevated to the post of party president, youths including Jyotiraidtya Scindia and Sachin Pilot came to prominence.

Many believe it was old guards against young guards in Congress party ever since Rahul Gandhi announced to stepped down from the top post after massive defeat in lok sabha polls in May this year.

After it was decided that Sonia Gandhi would be reinstated as interim president, many believed the tried and trusted old guards had finally their say in the party.

Last year as well, then party president Rahul Gandhi had almost zeroed in on Jyotiraditya Scindia for the post of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister but with the help of his old friend Digvijay Singh and backing from Sonia Gandhi, Nath successfully nixed the Scindia family scion and became Chief Minister. However, his rule and stature in the party was persistently challenged by Scindia and his supporters in cabinet.

Ministers from Scindia camp regularly challenged the authority of the Chief Minister and one of them, Pradyumn Singh Tomar even had a heated exchange with Nath recently over balance of power in the government.

However, with Sonia Gandhi back to the top post, at least for a while, Nath is expected to regain his clout in the party, opined a political analyst from the state capital who did not wish to be identified.