Prove majority in House on Monday: MP Governor to CM Kamal Nath

Bhopal, March 14

Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon on Saturday night directed Chief Minister Kamal Nath to seek trust vote on March 16 immediately after his (Governor’s) address.

The move comes after the state BJP submitted a memorandum to Tandon demanding a floor test by division of votes and not voice vote, before the Budget session begins on Monday. Also the rebel MLAs have sent a letter to the Governor and demanded security, Raj Bhavan sources said.

Meanwhile, the Speaker accepted the resignations of six rebel MLAs who were ministers in the Kamal Nath government.

These MLAs were sacked from the Cabinet after they, along with 16 other legislators, resigned in support of Jyotiraditya Scindia who left the Congress and joined the BJP. “I have accepted the resignations of Imarati Devi, Tulsi Silawat, Govind Singh Rajput, Mahendra Singh Sisodiya, Pradyumn Singh Tomar and Prabhuram Chaudhari,” Prajapti said.

“I had given them time to appear in person on Friday and Saturday after their resignations came in for verification. But they did not turn up,” he added. With the Speaker’s decision, the effective strength of the MP Assembly is now 222. Two seats are vacant.

The Congress-led Kamal Nath government is on the brink after senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia revolted and joined the BJP, and several of the latter’s supporter MLAs tendered their resignations. Speaking to reporters after meeting Tandon, senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “Now, Kamal Nath government is in minority and does not have the right to continue.” Nath on Saturday wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah, urging him to ensure the “release” of 22 Congress legislators held “captive” in Bengaluru.

Congress MLAs leave Jaipur

Meanwhile, the Congress MLAs, who were staying in two resorts in Jaipur, are returning to Bhopal.

Nearly 90 Congress MLAs from Bhopal arrived at the Jaipur airport and are going back in a flight.

“We will prove majority in floor test. The Kamal Nath government will complete a five-year term,” one of the MLAs told reporters at the airport.

The MLAs, who landed in Jaipur on Wednesday amid a political crisis in Madhya Pradesh triggered by former Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia’s exit from the party, were staying in two luxury resorts on the Jaipur-Delhi highway here.

35 booked for stir

• The MP police have booked around 35 unidentified persons for showing black flags to BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia.
• Scindia was on his way to airport when Congress men protested on Friday.

‘Scindia Vibhishan’

• While welcoming Scindia, Shivraj Singh Chouhan accidentally called him “Vibhishan in Kalyug’s Ramayan and Kamal Nath Ravan.”
• Many Congress leaders said Chouhan had insulted Scindia.