AGENCIES
Amidst the political crisis before the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, Congress MLAs returned to Bhopal today from Jaipur, a day before the budget session of the state assembly begins. Governor Lalji Tandon had earlier directed Chief Minister Kamal Nath to seek a trust vote in the assembly on Monday.
After landing at Bhopal airport, MLAs were taken to a hotel in buses instead of home. The Congress Legislature Party had issued a whip on Saturday, asking its MLAs to remain present during the assembly session. The BJP also issued a whip today to all its MLAs to remain present in the House and vote in favour of party during the trust vote. The BJP MLAs, who have been staying at a hotel in Haryana, have not returned to Bhopal so far.
The Kamal Nath-led government has been facing a deep crisis following the resignation of 22 Congress MLAs after former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party last week.
Meanwhile, the Congress expressed confidence that it will prove its majority in the House, while the opposition BJP claimed that the ruling dispensation has been reduced to the minority as 22 of its MLAs have resigned. State Public Relations Minister P C Sharma said that we are confident of proving our majority. He said although the governor has asked the Congress government to seek a trust vote after his (governor’s) address in the assembly on Monday, the Speaker was empowered to decide about the proceedings of the House and he would take a call on it.
While, BJP chief whip in the assembly, Narottam Mishra said that the Congress has lost its majority. The Speaker had accepted the resignations of six ministers yesterday, who are among the 22 rebel MLAs. With this, the strength of the House has come down to 222 and the majority mark is now 112. However, the resignations of 16 other rebel legislators have not been accepted so far.
The Congress’s strength has now come down to 92 after its 22 legislators rebelled and submitted their resignations. Before the rebellion, its tally was 114. The Congress also has the support of four Independents, two BSP MLAs and one from the SP. The BJP holds 107 seats in the assembly.