Chief Minister Kamal Nath to meet Madhya Pradesh governor today.
Highlights
- 22 Congress MLAs resigned with Jyotiraditya Scindia
- Narmada Prajapati issued notices to 13 of 22 Congress MLAs
- Mr Scindia was nominated by BJP for Rajya Sabha seat
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath reportedly referred to the coronavirus pandemic in his discussions today with the Governor on the inevitable floor test after the exit of 22 Congress MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia pushed his government to the brink of collapse. Jyotiraditya Scindia, one of Congress's top leaders, joined the BJP on Wednesday, and the MLAs - in Bengaluru since Monday -- are likely to follow him.
The Chief Minister, asked about the possibility of the virus scare stalling the assembly session, told reporters after the meeting: "Coronavirus yanha pehle rajneeti mein hai, baad mein dekha jayega. (We will see about that later...first there is coronavirus in politics)."
The ruling Congress in Madhya Pradesh has reasons to put off any test of strength for now. It is desperately trying to reach the rebels in an attempt to win them back.
The Congress has 120 MLAs in Madhya Pradesh, four more than the majority mark of 116 in the 230-member assembly. If the resignations of 22 MLAs are accepted, the majority mark will fall to 104. This will make it easier for the BJP - with 107 MLAs - to stake claim to power.
Kamal Nath's aides claim the rebel MLAs are being held captive in BJP-ruled Karnataka, but their efforts to establish contact with them have failed so far.
The Chief Minister, in his letter to Governor Lalji Tandon, urged him to "ensure the release of MLAs held in captivity in Bengaluru".
"How can there be a floor test when MLAs are in captivity? First free them, bring them here. If they are away on their free will, why not bring them in front of media," Mr Nath told reporters.
The meeting between Mr Nath and the Governor, who returned to Bhopal last night after a Holi vacation, took place as the deadline nears for rebel MLAs to appear before Assembly Speaker Narmada Prasad Prajapati and submit their resignations.
In his sharply-worded letter to the Governor, the Chief Minister also accused the BJP of "horse trading". "I'm constrained to point out the immoral, unethical and illegal acts of Bharatiya Janta Party in Madhya Pradesh," he said.
"The very edifice of democracy is in danger," Kamal Nath wrote, as he also made a reference to a late-night "rescue" operation last week, when Congress MLAs at a Gurgaon hotel were brought out by senior party leader Digvijaya Singh.
"As a responsible leader of Indian National Congress, I invite and would welcome a Floor Test of my government in the forthcoming session of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly already notified from 16th March 2020, on a date fixed by the Speaker."
"We assure the people of Madhya Pradesh that we will not leave any stone unturned to ensure triumph of democracy and the legislative process, to uphold the Constitution and the values enshrined therein," the letter read.
The Speaker had issued notices to 13 of 22 Congress MLAs, including six ministers, who resigned on Tuesday, asking them to appear before him on Friday and Saturday. Speaking to NDTV, NP Prajapati had earlier said the MLAs will have to submit their resignation letters in person.
"As per the law, those resigning will have to first appear before the Speaker personally, after which only I will look into the available evidences/facts before deciding as per merits of the case," he said.
Jyotiraditya Scindia - once close to the Gandhis - quit the Congress on Tuesday, nearly two decades after he joined the party.
As the ruling Congress makes desperate attempts to reach the legislators in Bengaluru, it has also filed petitions before the speaker, seeking their disqualification.
Both the parties have stepped up efforts to guard their flock. While Congress has moved 94 MLAs to Jaipur, the BJP has moved 102 MLAs to a five-star hotel in Gurgaon.