Published 17:35 IST, March 13th 2020
BIG: MP Guv expels 6 Scindia-camp ministers who had resigned, after CM Kamal Nath's letter
Hours after Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath wrote to the governor apprising him about the political chaos, he has expelled 6 ministers
Hours after Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath wrote to the governor apprising him about the political chaos, he has expelled 6 ministers who were at the Bengaluru resort on Friday. News agency ANI informed that among the ministers are - Imrati Devi, Tulsi Silawat, Govind Singh Rajput, Mahendra Singh Sisodia, Pardyuman Singh Tomar and Dr Prabhuram Chaudhary. Earlier in the day, Nath had not responded about the floor test to media but in his letter, he had written that he would "invite a floor test in the forthcoming session of Madhya Pradesh Assembly already notified from March 16."
Kamal Nath's letter to the governor
During his meeting with governor earlier in the day, Kamal Nath handed over a letter to the Governor alleging horsetrading of MLAs by BJP and requested him to ensure 'release of MLAs held in captivity in Bengaluru'. In the letter, the Madhya Pradesh chief minister underlined the "immoral, unethical, illegal" acts of the BJP in the state. Accusing the BJP of 'poaching', Kamal Nath raised questions of the 'Constitutional propriety, legislative procedure, and transparency.' He claimed that the BJP first attempted on March 3 and 4, which was foiled by the Congress using 'allurement and force'. Later, on March 8, he alleged that in a second attempt the BJP whisked away 19 Congress MLAs to a Bengaluru resort in three chartered aircraft since then those legislators cannot be communicated.
BJP seeks floor test in MP assembly
The BJP in Madhya Pradesh will seek a floor test on March 16 in the wake of 19 Congress MLAs resigning the state, a senior BJP leader said on Thursday. The 14-month-old Kamal Nath-led government has been facing a deep crisis following the resignation of 19 Congress MLAs after former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party on Tuesday. "Since the government is in minority, we are going to request the governor and the Assembly Speaker for a floor test on March 16 when the state budget session begins," BJP's Narottam Mishra said.
MP Assembly's 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.
Updated 17:35 IST, March 13th 2020