Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath (Photo Credit: IANS)
New Delhi:
The Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh got a 10-day breather on Monday as the assembly session was adjourned without an anticipated trust vote until March 26 over coronavirus. Madhya Pradesh governor Lalji Tandon, earlier, had directed the chief minister to seek trust vote in the assembly. 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".
"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.
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The Congress party, on the other hand, is confident of proving majority in the house. “We will not allow the BJP to succeed in its design. I am confident about the government proving its majority,” he said.
However, he added, “BJP wants the (22) Congress MLAs are held captive in Bangalore when a floor test is held here. Voting has a meaning when all are free to vote in a free atmosphere.”
Responding to governor’s later night missive, Kamal Nath, on Sunday had said that the state governor should respect the Constitution and limit himself to the same. He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of using “chartered planes” to take the MLAs to Bangalore. He said the fact that the MLAs were being protected by police in a BJP ruled state and copies of their resignations were brought to Bhopal by a BJP leader suggested there was a conspiracy.
Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: BJP Issues Whip, Asks MLAs To Be Present During Assembly
He added, “I would like to request the governor to respect the Constitution and its values and limit himself to the same.” A trust vote or confidence motion is moved to find out whether the chief minister enjoys the confidence of the majority of the House.
According to News18, the governor also directed that that the floor test be completed on 16 March and said the exercise cannot be "deferred, delayed or suspended". The governor also directed that the trust vote be held by division of votes and the process be recorded on video by the Vidhan Sabha through independent persons.
Madhya Pradesh BJP Legislature Party on Sunday issued a whip to all its MLAs to remain present in the House during the Assembly session that begins on Monday, and vote in favour of party during the trust vote. The whip was issued by BJP chief whip and MLA Narottam Mishra.
The chief whip told the party MLAs to vote in favour of the BJP during the floor test.
Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon had directed Chief Minister Kamal Nath late Saturday night to seek a trust vote in the assembly soon after his (governor’s) address on March 16.
The Kamal Nath government in the state is teetering after 22 MLAs, supporters of Jyotiraditya Scindia who quit the Congress and joined the BJP, resigned.
Madhya Pradesh 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.'
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 & we've appealed the Governor to order conduct floor test at the earliest. He has assured us to protect our constitutional rights.
Bhopal: Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs met Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon at Raj Bhawan today. He said, "Appropriate action will be taken. Be assured that no one will violate your rights".
Madhya Pradesh BJP legislators meet Governor Lalji Tandon and requested him to order for the conduct of the floor test at the earliest. Former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan says, "The govt has lost majority and has no right to remain in power". pic.twitter.com/MUST0mIzQB
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2020
BJP MLAs are being paraded before Governor Lalji Tandon at his official residence.
Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear the BJP's plea asking it to order a floor test in the Madhya Pradesh assembly. 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, and says it has no right to remain in power even for a day. It also accuses the Congress of horsetrading.
The floor test in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly will not happen today. The sitting for today has concluded.
Bhopal: Governor Lalji Tandon left shortly after Assembly proceedings began. He said, "All must follow the rules under the Constitution so that dignity of Madhya Pradesh remains protected." pic.twitter.com/07hJB556rJ
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2020
CM Kamal Nath writes to Governor Lalji Tandon today stating, "Hope due procedure and Constitution will be followed", as suspense over floor test continues.
It will be undemocratic to hold floor test today: Kamal Nath.
#MadhyaPradesh CM Kamal Nath with his party MLAs at the State Assembly in Bhopal. pic.twitter.com/X2S2whbmzT
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2020
Madhya Pradesh: Former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP MLAs at the state Assembly in Bhopal. pic.twitter.com/Wm7wtZjjx4
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2020
Uncertainty looms over holding of floor test in Madhya Pradesh Assembly, with sources in Jyotiraditya Scindia camp claiming that 22 Congress MLAs who resigned last week may not be coming to Bhopal
Visuals from Madhya Pradesh Assembly in Bhopal; The Madhya Pradesh Governor yesterday wrote to Chief Minister Kamal Nath stating that voting during the trust vote in the Assembly should be done by the 'raising of hands' method. pic.twitter.com/szDVxA442w
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2020
Madhya Pradesh Minister Jitu Patwari: Chief Minister has said hat some of our MLAs have been kidnapped. PM Narendra Modi has discovered a model to kill the democracy - abduct, lure, manage MLAs&keep them in police custody,record&make their videos viral&then demand for floor test.
Gopal Bhargav, Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly: State govt is running away from facing the floor test but it can't be saved from collapsing as a good number of MLAs are against it. Govt has been defeated morally & the Chief Minister should resign on moral ground.
Madhya Pradesh Minister PC Sharma: They (rebel Congress MLAs who are kept in Bengaluru) are being hypnotized & terrorized and are not allowed by (some people) to come to the state, their families are being harassed.
