Kamal Nath might announce his resignation rather than face the floor test during the press conference (Photo Credit: ANI)
New Delhi:
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath announced his resignation ahead of the scheduled floor test to prove his majority in the state assembly. Addressing a press conference, Kamal Nath announced that he would submit his resignation to Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon on Friday afternoon. "I have decided to submit my resignations to the governor...But I will continue to work for the welfare of the people," he said.
Accusing the BJP of plotting against him, Kamal Nath warned those who breached the trust of the people.
Even before the announcement, speculations were rife that Kamal Nath might announce his resignation rather than face the floor test during the press conference. These speculations were further boosted after senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh conceded that they 'did not have the numbers' to survive the floor test. The floor test for the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh to prove its majority in the Assembly was scheduled for 2.00 pm on Friday.
Talking to India Today, Singh had said that the Kamal Nath government will not be able to survive the trust vote. He said that after the acceptance of the resignations of 22 MLAs, the government did not have the numbers.
Earlier, Speaker NP Prajapati had accepted the resignations of 16 rebel Congress MLAs around 11.30pm on Thursday. The rebel MLAs are still in Bengaluru and had refused to participate in the floor test. Six resignations were accepted earlier. This means that the resignations of all the 22 MLAs who resigned from the assembly with rebel leader Jyotiraditya Scindia has been accepted. BJP MLA Sharad Kol had also tedered his resignation bringing the strength of house down to 205 now with the majority mark at 103. The Congress has 91 members excluding the speaker. It may gather the support of four independent legislators, one SP MLA and two BSP members, but will still fall short of the majority mark by six. The BJP has 107 MLAs in the assembly.
Supreme Cout has ordered immediate floor test after hearing the plea of former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The court has directed the trust vote to be completed by 5 pm on Friday. The agenda for the floor test was was issued at 1.30 am on Friday by Assembly principal secretary AP Singh. (With Agency Inputs)
Sweets being distributed at BJP office in Bhopal. BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly Gopal Bhargava and other leaders present.
#MadhyaPradesh: Sweets being distributed at BJP office in Bhopal. BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly Gopal Bhargava and other leaders present. https://t.co/NU0xrKnR2B pic.twitter.com/oNetQMVrRb
— ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2020
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath submitted his resignation to state governor Lalji Tandon at the Raj Bhawan.
Kamal Nath has arrived at Raj Bhavan in Bhopal
Madhya Pradesh: #KamalNath arrives at Raj Bhavan in Bhopal. He has resigned as the CM, ahead of the floor test in the state assembly which was to be held today. pic.twitter.com/ZDoDjGjfxk
— ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2020
According to reports, BJP MLAs may meet this evening. BJP may stake the claim to form the government after the meeting.
I will submit my resignation to Governor Lalji Tandon soon: Kamal Nath
BJP thinks it can win by defeating the people of my state. They can never do that: Kamal Nath
Kamal Nath says there was mafia-raj in Madhya Pradesh during BJP rule. BJP did not want the mafias to be exposed.
They have breached of the trust of the people of Madhya Pradesh: Kamal Nath
People will not forgive those who went against the people's mandate: Kamal Nath
BJP has always been conspiring against me all the while. 22 of our MLAs were held captive in Bengaluru. This was politics spending crores of rupees: Kamal Nath
Ever since we came in power, we have focussed on development only: Kamal Nath
People gave me five years to govern. BJP got 15 years, I got 15 months till now: Kamal Nath
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath is addressing a press conference ahead of the scheduled floor test to prove his majority in the state assembly.
