MP Congress MLA Sumitra Devi Kasdekar resigns from post and joins BJP; 24th MLA to do so

In yet anor setback to Mhya Presh Congress, anor MLA Sumitra Devi Kasdekar submitted her resignation as MLA to protem Speaker Rameshwar Sharma on Friday. After her resignation was accepted, Kasdekar promptly joined BJP in presence of CM Shivraj Chouhan. With Kasdekar's resignation, 24 Congress MLAs have quit till date.

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24th Congress MLA quits in MP

This development comes days after Ba Malhera MLA Pryumn Singh Lodhi resigned from his post and immediately joined BJP in presence of CM Shivraj Chouhan. Lodhi has now been me chairman of Food and Civil Supplies Corporation. As of now, BJP has now accommodated 14 Congress rebels in its cabinet.

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Mhya Presh cabinet expansion

On July 2, due to ill-health of Governor Lalji Tandon, acting MP Governor Anandiben Patel was sworn in. Moreover - 28 ministers were sworn in - 20 of cabinet rank and 8 of ministers of state rank. 12 of 22 Congress rebels and Scindia loyalists managed to secure ministerial berths. Apart from se 12, two rebel MLAs -Tulsi Silawat and Govind Singh Rajput h alrey been sworn in shortly after CM Shivraj Chouhan took oath.

Congress political crisis

crisis in Kamal Nath government started when Congress alleged BJP of poaching 4 MLAs - two of which returned to Kamal Nath's folds. Soon, 22 MLAs including 6 cabinet ministers - loyal to Jyotiritya Scindia - quit party, reducing Congress to a minority government with 92 MLAs. biggest jolt occurred when former Guna MP Jyotiritya Scindia formally submitted his resignation to Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi and n joined BJP. After Nath stepped down as CM and Mhya Presh Speaker accepted all 22 MLAs' resignation, all of m promptly joined BJP. By-polls will be held soon on se 26 seats.

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Meanwhile in Rajasthan, Deputy CM Sachin Pilot launched a rebellion when  Rajasthan's Special Operations Group (SOG) issued notice to Pilot in connection with alleged involvement of BJP leers for toppling state government - with BJP members hinting that Pilot was reportedly in touch with BJP camp to become CM. In response, Pilot and 18 MLAs arrived in Delhi, reducing Congress' numbers from 107 to 88. While Gehlot has submitted a letter of support from over 104 MLAs, all attempts to woo back Pilot failed as he maintained that will not be joining BJP. Congress has sacked Pilot as Deputy CM, state party chief, and 2 cabinet ministers, issuing all 19 MLAs disqualification notice by Speaker. Pilot and his MLAs have challenged disqualification in Rajasthan High Court.

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