'Waiting to meet 9 Congress MLAs who resigned', says 'worried' MP Speaker

Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati on Sunday said that he is waiting for the nine rebel MLAs who have submitted their resignation through various means. He also said that he was worried about the well-being of the MLAs as they have not met him personally. Earlier on Saturday, Prajapati had accepted the resignations of the six ministers who are supporters of BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Speaking to the media, Prajapati said, "Today is the third day, I waited for the MLAs who had given the notice. I was waiting for the nine MLAs who had led me their resignation through some means. But no one made direct contact. I’m worried about the MLAs about what is happening with them." Speaking on the floor test the Speaker said, "Whether the floor test will happen or not you will know tomorrow."

On Saturday, Governor Lalji Tandon had asked the Assembly Speaker Narmada Prasad Prajapati to conduct the floor test on Monday, March 16, the day on which the assembly session begins. He also asked Chief Minister Kamal Nath to seek a trust vote soon after his address on March 16. He has sent a letter to the Chief Minister regarding the same.

"Under Article 174 and 175(2) of the Constitution, I am empowered to direct that MP Assembly session will begin on March 16 at 11 am with my address. Soon after that, the only work to be done is voting on trust vote," the letter stated. 

READ | MP Speaker Accepts Resignation Of 6 Pro-Scindia Ministers; Congress Tally Dwindles To 108

Kamal Nath writes to governor

On Friday, Kamal Nath had written to the Governor apprising him of the situation in the state adding, "invite a floor test in the forthcoming session of Madhya Pradesh Assembly already notified from March 16". In response, Governor of Madhya Pradesh Lalji Tandon expelled 6 pro-Scindia ministers who were at the Bengaluru resort.The rebel MLAs had prepared to fly from Bengaluru to Bhopal on Friday but had cancelled after seeking protection from the Madhya Pradesh police.

READ | Here's What Shivraj Singh Chouhan Says About Rajya Sabha Ticket To Jyotiraditya Scindia

Madhya Pradesh political crisis

The crisis in the Kamal Nath government started when Congress alleged BJP of poaching 4 MLAs - Surendra Singh Shera, Bisahulal Singh, Hardeep Singh Dang, and Raghuraj Kansana when they were flown to Bengaluru. While two of them have returned to Kamal Nath's folds, 18 MLAs including 6 Cabinet Ministers - loyal to Scindia flew to Bengaluru on Monday. Though Kamal Nath dissolved his Cabinet, making 20 Ministers resign on Monday night at an apparent Cabinet rejig attempt, it failed and all 6 rebel Cabinet Ministers have been expelled.

In a major jolt to the Chief Minister, the former Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia formally submitted his resignation to Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday. He then formally joined the BJP after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter's residence along with former BJP party chief Amit Shah and has since then slammed the Congress saying 'it was not the same anymore'. He has since then been fielded by the BJP for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls.

READ | Trouble Mounts For Congress As Two MLAs From Gujarat Resign Ahead Of RS Elections

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 108, with the acceptance of the six ministers' resignation. Overall, if the resignation of all 22 rebel MLAs is accepted, the halfway mark will be reduced to 103.

READ | Madhya Pradesh: Congress Leader Claims To Have More Than 112 MLAs Ahead Of Floor Test