After MP CM Kamal Nath's resignation, rebel MLAs join BJP
What's the story
After triggering the fall of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, 22 rebel MLAs in the state joined the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The MLAs had resigned from the Congress party earlier this month, causing the Nath government to lose its majority in the state Legislative Assembly. The BJP is now keen on forming the new government.
Details
Jyotiraditya Scindia present as rebel MLAs welcomed into BJP
According to IANS, the 22 rebel MLAs joined the BJP on Saturday in the presence of party President JP Nadda. The legislators are expected to take primary membership of the saffron party. Reportedly, former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, who recently joined the BJP, was present for the occasion. Key state leaders Narendra Tomar and Kailash Vijayvargiya were also present.
Nath's resignation
Kamal Nath resigned on Friday; blamed BJP conspiracy
The Congress government in MP collapsed on Friday as Kamal Nath resigned as CM ahead of a floor test to prove his majority in the Assembly. Announcing his resignation, Nath said, "22 of our MLAs were lured and kept hostage in Bengaluru." He added, "Together with a 'Maharaj' (Scindia) and his loyalist MLAs, the BJP hatched this conspiracy. The public will never forgive them."
Backstory
How did the MP political crisis begin?
The 15-month-old Nath government found itself in a tough spot when on March 9 party heavyweight Jyotiraditya Scindia tendered his resignation. Thereafter, 22 MLAs, loyal to Scindia, also resigned. Among them were six ministers in the Nath government. 19 of the rebel MLAs were then camped at a Bengaluru resort in BJP-ruled Karnataka. This led to the Congress accusing BJP of horse-trading MLAs.
Later developments
Nath then asked Governor to order floor test
Confident of his government's majority, on March 13, Nath asked Governor Lalji Tandon to order a floor test in the MP Assembly. The next day, the Governor ordered the floor test to be conducted on March 16 and remarked that the Nath government seems to have lost the majority. The same day, Assembly Speaker Narmada Prasad Prajapati accepted the resignations of six rebel ministers.
Floor test
Floor test deferred amid coronavirus scare; BJP moved top court
On March 16, the Speaker adjourned the Assembly session till March 26, citing the coronavirus outbreak. The floor test was not held. Viewing this as a delay tactic, the BJP moved the Supreme Court demanding a floor test. The party was confident that it held the majority. After two-day long marathon hearings, the court on March 19 ordered a floor test the next day.
Fall of Congress
Speaker accepted remaining resignations clearing doubts of minority Congress government
After the floor test was ordered, Speaker Prajapati accepted the resignations of the remaining 16 rebel MLAs. In the 230-member MP Assembly, which already had an effective strength of 228, the resignations caused the House strength to drop to 206. Meanwhile, the Congress party's strength fell to 92 MLAs; 99 at best with the support of seven non-Congress MLAs. The BJP had 107 MLAs.
Rebel MLAs
Who are the 22 rebel MLAs?
The six rebel ministers include Tulsi Silawat, Govind Singh Rajput, Dr. Prabhuram Choudhry, Imarti Devi, Pradyumna Singh Tomar, and Mahendra Singh Sisodia. The other rebel MLAs are Manoj Choudhary, Hardeep Singh Dang, Rajyavardhan Singh, Brajendra Singh Yadav, Jaspal Jajji, Suresh Dhakad, Jaswant Jatav, Raksha Santram Sironia, Munnalal Goyal, Ranveer Singh Jatav, OPS Bhadoria, Kamlesh Jatav, Giriraj Dandotiya, Raghuraj Kansana, Aidalsingh Kansana, and Biasahulal Singh.