Madhya Pradesh: BJP Moves To Supreme Court After Kamal Nath Gets 10-Day Break | Top Developments

The Madhya Pradesh assembly was adjourned on Monday till March 26 over the coronavirus outbreak, paving 10-day breather for the Kamal Nath government to prove their majority in the house. Earlier, both Kamal Nath and Shivraj Singh Chouhan flashed victory sign while entering the state assembly, manifesting confidence of the numbers. Madhya Pradesh governor Lalji Tandon commenced the session with a very short speech where he urged all the members of the house to follow the procedure and constitution. At the weekend, Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon instructed Kamal Nath to face a trust vote after his address to the state assembly today. In his letter to Nath, Tandon stated, "I came to know that 22 MLAs have sent their resignations to the MP Assembly Speaker and they have also informed about it on electronic and print media. I have seen the coverage on both media.They have also sent the letter to me separately on 10 March, 2020 and the same MLAs have requested for the central security to present these resignation letters to the Vidhan Sabha speaker on 13 March".

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: BJP Moves Supreme Court After Speaker Delays Floor Test, Hearing Tomorrow

"Under Article 174 and 175(2) of the Constitution, I am empowered to direct that the Madhya Pradesh Assembly session will begin on 16 March at 11 am with my address. Soon after that, the only work to be done is voting on trust vote," the governor said.  

Here are the top developments:

1. BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan: The Chief Minister is running away from the trust vote as he knows that the govt lacks majority. BJP has the majority and we've appealed the Governor to order conduct floor test at the earliest. He has assured us to protect our constitutional rights.
2. Governor Lalji Tandon refused to read out his complete speech to the assembly, cleared by the Kamal Nath cabinet, and ended his address with a subtle "direction" to MLAs to stick to constitutional norms.
3. The Supreme Court said that it will hear the BJP's plea asking it to order a floor test in the Madhya Pradesh assembly tomorrow. The BJP has accused the Congress government of "deliberately and wilfully" defying the Governor's order asking Chief Minister Kamal Nath to prove his majority today.
4. Soon after the adjournment order, the BJP went to the Supreme Court and asked the top court to instruct the Speaker of the Madhya Pradesh assembly to conduct the floor test. The petition was filed through Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was chief minister for 15 years until late 2018.
5. The Speaker of the Madhya Pradesh assembly adjourned proceedings till March 26, buying Chief Minister Kamal Nath some time.