Kamal Nath Running Away From Trust Vote, Says Shivraj Singh Chouhan After MP Government Gets 10-Day Breather

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.

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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.