Singh's relative isolation appears to have been brought about deliberately ``to cut him down to size'', as a senior party leader pointed out. The Congress' seniormost Chief Minister has been credited with damaging the political fortunes of many stalwarts in his state and now they are all smelling revenge.

The CM's arch-rival, former deputy chief minister Subhash Yadav, is in the forefront in settling political scores. Yadav has used the sensitive issue of the government's ``anti-farmer policies'' to embarrass the Chief Minister. Yadav has reportedly claimed that he has the backing of Kamal Nath, Madavrao Scindia and Arjun Singh in his campaign against Singh.

Party sources say the silence of the party high command suggests that Singh no longer has many supporters left. The Central leaders who look after the state's affairs neither appear to be very concerned over the developments, nor are making serious efforts for a rapprochement.

``The fact that even the threat of disciplinary action has failed to deter the dissidents indicates that they have backing at the level of the party high command...the moot point is that how far will Yadav be allowed to go,'' a senior leader said.

That Singh seems to have temporarily run out of friends and supporters is clear from his old friend and senior party leader Kamal Nath's studied silence. It suggests a subtle shift in his earlier stance when he had come to the defence of Singh. This time round, the seven-time MP from Chindwara has decided to distance himself from the CM.

Sources say Kamal Nath's aloofness is an important indicator for how developments within the party's state unit would unfold. ``The anti-farmer issue appears to have been chosen with considerable thought since this is one issue on which no senior leader will come to the defence of the CM,'' the source pointed out.

Another state heavyweight and AICC general secretary Madhavrao Scindia, however, chose to distance himself from Yadav's claim that he had the former's backing. ``I am a general secretary and I have certain responsibilities. I am not going to go around destabilising Congress-run state governments,'' he told The Indian Express today.

Scindia declined to comment on the developments in the state in which he wields considerable influence. ``It is an internal party matter and should be discussed in the party forum rather than in public,'' he said. In defence of the Chief Minister, he however argued that the faulty policies of the Central Government on the import of palm oil, sugar and subsidies were more to blame for the sufferings of the farmers in the state.