Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath met Governor Lalji Tandon in the midst of political crisis in the state, triggered by the resignation of 22 rebel Congress MLAs three days ago, and discussed the upcoming floor test. Before the rebellion, the Congress tally was 114. It also has the support of four Independent MLAs, two of the BSP and the lone SP legislator, but some may now switch sides and back the BJP which is sensing an opportunity to install its government in the state. If the resignations of the 22 Congress MLAs are accepted by the speaker, the strength of the assembly will dip to 206. The Congress will then be left with 92 MLAs. The BJP, with 107 MLAs, can give a shot at government formation as the magic number for a majority will be 104.
The ruling Congress has alleged that 19 of the rebel Congress MLAs, including ministers, have been held “captive” by the BJP in a resort in Bengaluru, a charge denied by the opposition party. Nath’s meeting with the governor comes amid unconfirmed reports that six ministers, said to be close to former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, will be coming to Bhopal from Bengaluru to hand over their resignation letters in person to the Assembly speaker. Attempts to contact these ministers had proven futile. The whole series of event commenced with the resignation of Scindia, who joined the BJP on Wednesday.
A beleaguered Congress and a buoyed BJP are readying their strategies for the coming days, when a part of the drama is likely to be played out in the Assembly whose budget session starts from March 16. Encouraged by the resignation of 22 rebel Congress MLAs, the opposition BJP will push for a floor test on the opening day of the assembly session, while the Congress, staring at a possible collapse of its government, will seek to buy time to win back some of its legislators.
Before the rebellion, the Congress tally was 114. It also has the support of four Independent MLAs, two of the BSP and the lone SP legislator, but some may now switch sides and back the BJP which is sensing an opportunity to install its government in the state.
If the resignations of the 22 Congress MLAs are accepted by the speaker, the strength of the assembly will dip to 206. The Congress will then be left with 92 MLAs. The BJP, with 107 MLAs, can give a shot at government formation as the magic number for a majority will be 104.