New Delhi :
In a major embarrassment for the BJP, two party lawmakers on Wednesday voted in favour of Kamal Nath government during the voting on Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill introduced in Madhya Pradesh Assembly. The MLAs who cross voted are - Narayan Tripathi and Sharad Koul. The Kamal Nath government recieved 122 votes in the favour of the Bill.
"Everyday BJP says we are a minority govt and one which could fall any day. Today in voting in assembly(on criminal law amendment), two BJP MLAs voted in favour of our Government," ANI quoted Kamal Nath as saying.
The cross voting by the BJP MLAs has come hours after Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly Gopal Bhargva's threat to Chief Minister Kamal Nath that the Congress government in the state will not last 24 hours once they get orders from the high command.
"If there is an order from our No. 1 or No. 2 then your government will not survive even 24 hours," BJP lawmaker Gopal Bhargava, had said a day after the BJP toppled Congress-JDS coalition government in Karnataka.
Read More: Kamal Nath government will not survive 24 hours, if high command orders: BJP MLA Gopal Bhargav
Reacting to Bhargava's threat, Cheif Minister Kamal Nath dared him to bring a no-confidence motion against his government. "Your top No. 1 and No. 2 are sensible, that is why they are not giving such orders. You are free to bring in a no-confidence motion," Kamal Nath shot back.
Earlier, BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said if the current Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh meets the same fate as the Congress-JD(S) coalition in Karnataka then his party should not be held responsible.
Responding to Chouhan's remarks, Madhya Pradesh Higher Education and Sports Minister Jitu Patwari said that no one can touch the Kamal Nath government.
In Madhya Padesh, Congress has 114 MLAs of its own while it has got the support from seven others MLAs - four independents, two BSP and one Samahwadi Party. The BJP has won 109 seats in the last year's Assembly election but currently has a stregnth of 108 MLAs as one of its lawmaker GS Damor resigned following his election to the Lok Sabha.
