Madhya Pradesh LIVE Updates: Scindia quits Congress; dials Sachin Pilot say sources

The Madhya Pradesh government plunged into crisis on Monday after senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with 17 MLAs, virtually revolted prompting Chief Minister Kamal Nath to call a late-night cabinet meeting where around 20 ministers resigned reposing faith in his leadership. Kamal Nath accused the BJP of taking an immoral route to 
'destabalise the govt' and vowed to resist it. 

Earlier Nath told the cabinet meeting, "I will not allow (anyone) to destabilise my government with the help of mafia." "I have dedicated all my life to serving the people, but the BJP has indulged in immoral ways to destabilise my government. My biggest strength is people's faith and their love showered on me. I will not allow anyone to destabilise the government elected by the people," he said.

Following the development, MP Forest Minister Umang Singhar told PTI, "We have resigned. Now it is up to the chief minister to take a call." Out of the 28 ministers, 20 were present at the cabinet meeting, besides the chief minister. In an apparent move to quell the internal dissent, the chief minister was requested to reconstitute his cabinet to accomodate the revel MLAs in the council of ministers. 

Kamal Nath meets Sonia Gandhi 

On Monday, Kamal Nath who met with Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi, had to rush back to Bhopal, wherein he called an urgent cabinet meeting at 10 PM as intense speculation about the fate of his government sparked. Many of these legislators, including ministers, had flown to Bengaluru Monday morning.

After the meeting with Gandhi, Nath said any decision on the party's nominees for Rajya Sabha polls would be taken unanimously. "All issues were discussed with the Congress president and everything will be resolved unanimously," he told reporters in Delhi.

With trouble mounting for the Kamal Nath-led government, the Congress party last week accused the BJP of conducting 'Operation Lotus' to topple the government, after 10 MLAs and those of its allies travelled to Haryana, though the BJP had repeatedly denied the charge.  On Tuesday morning, Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed that the saffron party was disinterested in toppling the Kamal Nath-led government in the state. Dismissing the allegations of conducting 'Operation Lotus', the BJP called the political plight in Madhya Pradesh as the "internal matter" of the Congress party. 

Earlier in the day, a section of Congress leaders, mostly of Kamal Nath camp, demanded that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra be nominated from the state for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, seen by many as an attempt to thwart Scindia's chance to reach the Upper House.

BJP-Congress tussle  

While factionalism has reared its head again in Congress, the BJP too was having some anxious moments due to a couple of MLAs. While the Congress, which was voted to power in MP after 15 years in 2018, has 114 MLAs, the opposition BJP has 107 legislators. 

Four Independent MLAs, two lawmakers of the Bahujan Samaj Party and one legislator of the Samajwadi Party are supporting the Congress-led state government. As per the arithmetic in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the two parties are sure to win one Rajya Sabha seat each, but a tussle is likely for the third seat. Two assembly seats are vacant following the demise of a Congress and a BJP legislator.

Congress' 'poaching' charge on BJP 

Early last week, Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh repeatedly leveled horse-trading charges against the BJP. Digvijaya said that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Rambai was brought to the national capital by a charter flight on Monday by a BJP leader.

On March 2, Digvijaya Singh had alleged that Shivraj Chouhan and Narottam Mishra were offering bribes of Rs 25-35 crores to Congress MLAs in order to sack the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh. "Ever since Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has become the opposition party in Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Narottam Mishra and all those who looted the state for 15 years, they are not ready to sit in the Opposition and are openly offering bribes of Rs 25-35 crores to Congress MLAs," Singh alleged.

(With PTI inputs) 

BJP's Narottam Mishra on Tuesday morning said that senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia was 'welcome to join' the saffron party if he wishes to. 

"Scindia Ji is definitely welcome to join BJP if he wishes to. Our party inducts even grass-root level workers, then Scindia Ji is a tall leader," said Mishra.

In a last-ditch attempt to pacify miffed Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sonia Gandhi had called Scindia amid the growing number of rebels in Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs. It is speculated that he would be sent to Rajya Sabha as a preferred candidate.

A day after former Congress senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia went incommunicado with 17 MLAs of his party, Digvijaya Singh claimed that he was "suffering from swine flu" 

"We tried to contact Scindia Ji (Jyotiraditya Scindia) but it is being told that he is suffering from swine flu, so haven't been able to speak to him," Digvijaya Singh said.

In a significant development to the Madhya Pradesh political crisis, a miffed Jyotirditya Scindia was seen driving his black range rover to Prime Minister Modi's residence. He is reportedly accompanied by Home Minister Amit Shah.

Amidst this development, BJP took swift action as sources reported that senior BJP leaders Narottam Mishra and Shivraj Singh Chouhan met BJP chief Amit Shah's residence - hinting at BJP's decision to call for a trust vote in the MP assembly. In the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Congress currently has 114 MLAs, followed by the BJP with 107, with the current number of rebel MLAs posing a serious threat to the Kamal Nath government.

READ| MEGA Twist: Jyotirditya Scindia reaches PM Modi's residence with Amit Shah amid MP crisis

Sources in the Congress party told PTI that there are efforts being made to woo back disgruntled Jyotiraditya Scindia to save the Madhya Pradesh govt. Reportedly, Rahul Gandhi met with Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi at 10 Janpath in the national capital to discuss the political crisis on Monday night.

Amit Shah and Jyotiraditya Scindia left PM Modi's residence in the same car after holding a meeting, amid speculations that he may join the BJP to topple the Madhya Pradesh government led by Kamal Nath. 

Legislators loyal to Scindia, who has been upset with the Congress leadership with his marginalisation in the affairs of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, are likely to quit the party to reduce the Kamal Nath-led government to a minority.  

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister and senior Congress leader Bala Bachchan said that the party never sidelined Jyotiraditya Scindia, as the disgruntled leader met with PM Modi and Amit Shah earlier on Tuesday. 

Speaking to Republic TV, he said, "Congress never sidelined Scindia in Madhya Pradesh. CM has already given a statement and it will be our statement as well."

READ| Jyotiraditya Scindia & Amit Shah leave PM Modi's residence in the same car amid MP crisis

In a sensational development, Congress' Jyotiraditya Scindia on twitter announced that he has quit the grand old party. Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday morning shared a photograph of the resignation letter sent to party chief Sonia Gandhi. 

After Jyotiraditya Scindia made his resignation public, KC Venugopal notified that Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi approved the 'expulsion' of now-former Congress leader. On Tuesday noon, KC Venugopal said that Sonia Gandhi approved Scindia's resignation with immediate effect for "anti-party activities".

Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday morning shared a photograph of the resignation letter sent to party chief Sonia Gandhi.  In his letter, Scindia mentioned that his dissatisfaction had built up in the past one year. He wrote to Sonia, "As you well know, this path that has been drawing itself out over the last year." 

In an attempt to smear and mud-sling the former senior leader, Congress' national coordinator for social media took a dig at Scindia by supposedly calling him a "traitor" "A traitor is a traitor and no amount of arguments and reasoning can justify treachery. Period!" Pandhi said in a tweet on Tuesday. 

Following Jyotiraditya Scindia's trail, a camp of as many as 19 Congress MLAs, including six ministers from the state supporting him, sent in their resignations to the Madhya Pradesh Raj Bhavan and Speaker of Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. The MLAs are currently in Bengaluru. In his letter, Scindia mentioned that his dissatisfaction had built up in the past one year. He wrote to Sonia Gandhi, "As you well know, this path that has been drawing itself out over the last year." 

After tendering his resignation, sources told Republic that the former Congress leader Scindia is expected to join the BJP at 6 PM on Tuesday at the party headquarters.  Furthermore, it was also reported that in the evening BJP's Central Election Commission (CEC) will also announce Scindia as a Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh.

In order to challenge the Kamal Nath-led government, the saffron party will supposedly demand a floor test in Madhya Pradesh Assembly on March 16. The Rajya Sabha election is to be held on March 26. 

Indian Youth Congress (IYC) chief Srinivas B V on Tuesday slammed Jyotiraditya Scindia, who announced his resignation from the primary membership of the Congress on Tuesday morning, and thanked party chief Sonia Gandhi for expelling the former Guna MP "who was promoting anti-party activities and factionalism".

Assembly strength: 230

• (Less) Two MLAs had passed away: 228
• (Less) 20 MLAs who have resigned: 208
• Majority Mark in case of floor test: 105

According to sources, six more Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh are expected to resign. 

Congress leader and MLA Bisahu Lal Sahu resigned from the Congress party and joined the BJP on Tuesday, in the presence of former MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. 

"I have resigned from the Congress as well as from the membership of State Assembly. I have joined BJP. Most of the Congress MLAs will resign from the Congress in the coming days as they are fed up with the functioning of Kamal Nath govt," he said.  

READ| Hammerblow: 19 Congress Madhya Pradesh MLAs tender resignations after Scindia quits party

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot slammed Jyotiraditya Scindia for 'joining hands with the BJP' after the latter tendered his resignation from the Congress party. He accused Scindia of 'betraying' the trust and ideology of the people. 

Yashodhara Raje Scindia, the BJP leader and aunt of Jyotiraditya Scindia extended her best wishes to the latter as he quit the Congress party on March 10. 

"I am very happy and congratulate him. This is 'ghar vapasi'. Madhavrao Scindia had started his political career with Jan Sangh. Jyotiraditya was being neglected in Congress." Scindia has not officially joined the BJP yet. 

SP MLA Rajesh Shukla and BSP MLA Sanjeev Kushwaha arrive at the residence of BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

19 Congress MLAs, who are staying in Bengaluru, wrote a letter to Karnataka DGP, demanding protection and police escort. In the letter, they wrote, "We've come to Karnataka voluntarily for some important work, regarding which we require protection for our safe movement and stay in and around Bangaluru."

Another Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA from Sumawali (Morena), Adal Singh Kansana has tendered his resignation as a member of the Legislative Assembly. 

Amid the political drama in Madya Pradesh, another Congress MLA, Manoj Choudhary (Hatpipliya constituency in Dewas) has tendered his resignation as a member of the Legislative Assembly. Total Congress MLAs who have resigned are 22 now.

Here are the 22 Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs who resigned from the party, following Jyotiraditya Scindia:

1. Mahendra Singh Sisodia - Bamori
2. Brajendra Singh Yadav - Mungaoli 
3. Raghuraj Singh Kansana - Morena
4. Jaswant Jatav - Karaira
5. Suresh Dhakad - Pohari (Shivpuri)
6. Jajpal Singh Jajji - Ashoknagar
7. Munnalal Goyal - Gwalior East
8. Hardeep Singh Dang - Suwarsa, Mandsaur
9. Tulsi Ram Silawat - Sanver
10. Prabhuram Choudhary - Sanchi
11. Girraj Dandotiya - Dimani, Morena
12. O.P.S. Bhadoriya - Mehgaon (Bhind)
13. Pradhuman Singh Tomar - Gwalior
14. Rajvardhan Singh - Badnawar
15. Raksha Santram Saroniya – Bhander
16. Kamlesh Jatav – Ambah 
17. Imarti Devi – Dabra 
18. Ranvir Jatav – Gohad 
19. Govind Singh Rajput – Surkhi
20. Bisahu Lal Singh,Anuppur
21. Aidal Singh Kansana,Sumawli
22. Manoj Chaudhri,Hatpipalya

After resigning from the Congress party earlier on Tuesday, Jyotiraditya Scindia arrived at his Delhi residence. 

Leader of Opposition in state assembly Gopal Bhargava, Narottam Mishra, and other BJP leaders reached the residence of state assembly Speaker NP Prajapati to submit the resignations of 19 Congress MLAs.

Union Home Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari arrive at BJP Headquarters for the CEC meeting. PM Modi too is expected to the join the meeting shortly. Scindia is expected to join the saffron party after the CEC meet. 

Sources report that ex-Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia is unlikely to join BJP on Tuesday, but is likely to join on 12 March and will also allegedly file for Rajya Sabha nomination on 13 March. This development comes after the conclusion of the BJP CEC meeting which was chaired by PM Modi and included BJP top brass - J P Nadda, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari to name a few. Scindia, who quit the Congress party on Tuesday morning, was poised to join the saffron party on Tuesday evening at 6 PM.

Amid the Congress grappling to retain its remaining Madhya Pradesh MLAs, BJP on Tuesday is allegedly taken extra precautions by transporting its MLAs via buses to an unknown location, as per sources. Sources add that 4-5 bused have been made ready after the BJP legislative party meeting was held. Sources add that Congress too is mulling to shift its MLAs out of Bhopal to allegedly avoid anymore switching.

In a shocking act, mimicking BJP supporters inflammatory 'shoot traitors' slogans, Congress supporters gathered outside CM Kamal Nath's residence and raised similar slogans at ex-Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia. Congress supporters raised 'Party ke Gaddaro ko, Goli Maaro Saalo ko' (Shoot the traitors of Congress) slogans. Incidentally, Congress has vehemently hit out at BJP and its supporters for raising such 'hate-mongering' slogans. Scindia himself had slammed the BJP for spreading hate during the Delhi violence.

Former minister and senior congress leader of Madhya Pradesh, Sajjan Singh has left from Bhopal to Bengaluru, as per sources. He says he will try to convince the disgruntled MLAs and bring them back. Previously, Congress leader D K Shivakumar had flown to Mumbai in an attempt to pacify 17 rebel MLAs from Karnataka Congress, but had failed to do so leading to the downfall of JD(S)-Congress government.

Resolution passed in the Congress legislative party meet in Bhopal today. CM Kamal Nath has told his MLAs that they will not back down and continue to fight the BJP and Jyotiraditya Scindia.

"Congress legislative party condemns the unfortunate manner in which attempt has been made to insult the people's mandate by satisfying the personal ambitions of Jyotiraditya Scindia. We unanimously express gratitude to Congress president that she expelled Jyotiraditya Scindia from the primary membership of the party."

Ex-Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday has allegedly reached out to 5-6 young leaders in the Congress after tendering his resignation, as per sources. Sources further report those among whom Scindia has allegedly contacted are Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, former Union Ministers RPN Singh, Milind Deora, Jitin Prasada, Haryana MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi and others - all close aides of former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

Unruffled by the exit of senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, CM Kamal Nath on Tuesday, said to Republic TV that Congress was very confident. He added that the party was unaffected by Scindia leaving them and that the party will pass the floor test. Nath who had chaired a Congress Legislative Party meeting had passed a resolution against Scindia, condemning his 'betrayal of people's mandate'.

"We are very confident. We will pass the floor test. Why will Scindia leaving impact us? Those who have been held captive, are in touch. Why they are being to taken to Banglore? There is nothing to worry," he said to Republic TV.

Amid the exodus of senior Congress Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 Madhya Pradesh MLAs resigning, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was spotted on Tuesday exiting a restaurant in New Delhi's Lodhi Road. Visuals show the Gandhi scion pose for photos with people before leaving the venue without any comment. Scindia - who quit the Congress party after 18 years is set to join BJP on March 13.

MP Assembly current scenario

With the current halfway mark at 114 in the 228-MLA assembly, BJP currently holds 107 MLAs of its own. Congress which held 114 MLAs - has now been reduced to 92 MLAs. The resignation of 22 MLAs, has also brought down the halfway mark to 103. 4 more MLAs are poised to resign, as per sources. The Speaker is yet to accept any of these resignations.

Sources state that all Madhya Pradesh BJP MLAs are set to be flown to Delhi via chartered plane. Congress too is planning  to shift all its MLAs from Bhopal for Jaipur, ahead impending floor test.