5 years ago
New Delhi:
After the Madhya Pradesh assembly was adjourned till March 26, Governor Lalji Tandon has asked Chief Minister Kamal Nath to face floor test tomorrow.
The adjournment came soon after Governor Lalji Tandon walked out of the state assembly amid Congress slogans of "respect the house" after he said in his opening address at session today to "follow the Constitution".
The resignation of 22 Congress MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia last week has brought the state government on the brink of collapse. The MLAs, who flew to Bengaluru, are expected to follow Mr Scindia into the BJP; the long-time Congress leader made the stunning switch last week, complaining that the party was "not what it was before".
"All must follow the rules under the Constitution so that dignity of Madhya Pradesh remains protected," said the Governor today, in what was seen to a message to the Kamal Nath-led Congress government. The Governor had earlier asked the Speaker to hold a test of strength in the House.
Here are the Highlights on Madhya Pradesh government crisis:
As on today, we have the numbers: Kamal Nath
After meeting with the governor, Kamal Nath said: "I met the Governor, we discussed current political issues. I thanked him for his address in Assembly today. I said we're ready for things within the constitution, but we can't go outside its purview. BJP has brought in no-confidence motion. As on today, we have the numbers."
"If someone says, that we (Congress) don't have the numbers, they can bring no-confidence motion, mujhe kyun floor test dena? What problem do the 16 MLAs (rebel Congress MLAs) have? They should come before you and put forth their opinion," he added.
Supreme Court to hear BJP's plea for immediate floor test tomorrow
A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Dr DY Chandrachud and Justice Hemant Gupta will hear the plea filed by a former chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who sought urgent direction from the apex court to the Speaker to conduct a floor test as the latter had postponed it to March 26
The Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear the petition filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeking an immediate floor test in Madhya Pradesh Assembly.
A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Dr DY Chandrachud and Justice Hemant Gupta will hear the plea filed by a former chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who sought urgent direction from the apex court to the Speaker to conduct a floor test as the latter had postponed it to March 26
Kamal Nath arrives at Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Lalji Tandon
Bhopal: #MadhyaPradesh CM Kamal Nath arrives at Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Lalji Tandon. pic.twitter.com/r6ziENYjDk
- ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2020
Governor asks Kamal Nath to face floor test tomorrow
#MadhyaPradesh Governor Lalji Tandon, writes to CM Kamal Nath, stating 'Conduct the floor test on 17th March otherwise it will be considered that you actually don't have the majority in the state assembly.' pic.twitter.com/TvGx4PTr5r
- ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2020
Plea in top court
The petitioners said that they are approaching the top court as the respondents, Speaker and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, have violated the constitutional principles and have deliberately and willfully defied the directions issued by the Governor on March 14, requiring the Chief Minister to prove his majority on the floor of Madhya Pradesh legislative assembly.
"It is submitted by the petitioners that the leaders of the main opposition party namely the BJP also on March 14 had addressed a letter to the Madhya Pradesh Governor that the government was reduced into minority and attempts of horse-trading were being made," the petition said.
The petition said that in such a situation, the Governor should exercise his constitutional powers and direct the Chief Minister to prove his majority on the floor of the house.
"Since the government appears to have lost the majority in the House and the Chief Minister had himself expressed willingness to conduct the floor test, the Governor, in the exercise of his constitutional powers directed the Chief Minister to conduct a floor test in the house and prove his majority on March 16, 2020, when the budget session of the assembly begins," the petition said.
A plea filed by 10 BJP MLAs including Shivraj Singh Chauhan in the Supreme Court wants the floor test be done in 12 hours.
The plea is likely to be heard tomorrow.
BJP leaders are on their way to the governor's house.
BJP moves Supreme Court
Madhya Pradesh Assembly adjourned, no trust vote today
Kamal Nath writes to Governor Lalji Tandon
Kamal Nath has written to Governor Lalji Tandon, saying that it "does not lie within the domain of the Governor to interfere with the functions of the Speaker".
In his letter, Mr Nath said to the Governor: "The Governor cannot require the Speaker to discharge his functions in the manner he considers constitutionally appropriate."
Uphold the law: Madhya Pradesh governor
'All must follow the rules under the Constitution so that dignity of Madhya Pradesh remains protected," he adds.
Mr Tandon completes his address to House in one minute and leaves.
Chief Minister should resign on moral ground: Gopal Bhargava
Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Gopal Bhargava said that Chief Minister Kamal Nath should tender his resignation on moral grounds as his government lacks the majority.
"The state government is running away from facing the floor test but it cannot be saved from collapsing as a good number of MLAs are against it. Government has been defeated morally and the Chief Minister should resign on moral ground," Gopal Bhargava told news agency ANI.
MLAs arrive at the Madhya Pradesh State Assembly
PM Modi has discovered a model to kill democracy: Jitu Patwari
Rebel Congress MLAs being terrorised: Madhya Pradesh minister
Madhya Pradesh Minister PC Sharma says: They (rebel Congress MLAs who are kept in Bengaluru) are being hypnotized and terrorised and are not allowed by (some people) to come to the state, their families are being harassed.
The Congress has asserted that it is the Speaker's prerogative to decide about the proceedings of the House -- a claim seen as reluctance to hold the trust vote. But a buoyed BJP maintained that the Speaker was bound by the Governor's direction.
Chief Minister Kamal Nath has claimed that he has the numbers to win the trust vote.
