Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister resigned today, hours before a floor test to prove his majority in the state assembly as per Supreme Court's Thursday order. The Congress government in the state had plunged into crisis after exit of 22 MLAs followed by former union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia's high profile crossover from the Congress to the BJP.
This comes after the Supreme Court gave a 5 pm deadline for the floor test, responding to a petition by the BJP. Ordering the session to be reconvened on Friday, the court said, "There will be only one agenda - whether the government enjoys strength. The state of uncertainty in Madhya Pradesh should be effectively resolved by a floor test".
Last night, making the collapse of the government in Madhya Pradesh all but certain, state assembly speaker Narmada Prasad Prajapati accepted the resignations of the remaining 16 rebel Congress MLAs who have been in Bengaluru since March 9. Resignation of six rebel MLAs was accepted last week.
The acceptance of the resignations brought down the total strength of the assembly to 206 where the ruling Congress with 92 members and seven allied MLAs is now at least five short of a simple majority of 104. The opposition BJP with 107 MLAs is three more than the simple majority.
Here are the Highlights on Madhya Pradesh government crisis:
Mar 20, 2020 15:52 (IST)
Dismantling elected governments a habit of the BJP: Ashok Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said democracy was blatantly killed in Madhya Pradesh with the fall of the Kamal Nath-led state government there.
He said dismantling a democratically elected government for lust of power has become a habit of the BJP.
Mar 20, 2020 13:38 (IST)
Satyameva Jayate, Tweets Jyotiradiyta Scindia After Kamal Nath Quits
"In Madhya Pradesh, this is a win for people. I have always believed that politics should be a platform for public service... but the state government was misled in its approach. Truth has won once again... Satyameva Jayate," tweets BJP's Jyotiradiyta Scindia
Mar 20, 2020 12:37 (IST)
"Will resign," says Kamal Nath ahead of floor test.
Mar 20, 2020 12:30 (IST)
"I do not need a letter from the BJP... I need a letter from the people to tell me how I am performing. The BJP has plotted to take down a government that is changing the face of Madhya Pradesh," says Kamal Nath in his media address.
Mar 20, 2020 12:17 (IST)
I had accepted 16 resignations last night. Now I have also accepted resignation of Sharad Kol (BJP MLA). He had earlier said that he was forcefully made to resign but after looking at his documents and that he didn't meet me personally, it didn't seem like that: Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker to news agency ANI
Mar 20, 2020 12:15 (IST)
In 2018 the mandate was clear - it was for the Congress: Kamal Nath to reporters