Madhya Pradesh floor test: SC sends notice to Kamal Nath
What's the story
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued a notice to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath in connection to the plea filed by the opposition BJP demanding a floor test. The matter will be heard tomorrow at 10:30 am. Earlier, Governor Lalji Tandon asked Nath to gain the trust of Assembly by March 17, else it would be assumed he doesn't have numbers.
Context
Yesterday, Nath got a breather after Assembly was adjourned
Congress leader Nath's CM post came under threat after 22 legislators tendered their resignations and flew to Bengaluru, Karnataka. They did so after Jyotiraditya Scindia, a former parliamentarian, dumped Congress and switched sides to join BJP. Yesterday, the saffron party asked Nath to show numbers but the Assembly was adjourned till March 26, considering the coronavirus pandemic. Subsequently, BJP went to SC.
What happened
Speaker NP Prajapati also got served
A bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Hemant Gupta heard the matter, where senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi represented the petitioners. He said it was a travesty of justice that the other side didn't "enter appearance" in the matter. Justice Chandrachud noted it was best to issue notices and sent the same to Speaker NP Prajapati, Nath, and Principal Secretary to MP government.
Details
Nath thinks his MLAs have been held hostage, they denied
It was anticipated that Congress would raise the issue of rebel MLAs, sequestered in Bengaluru at the hearing, but it did no such thing. This morning, the MLAs addressed media and said BJP hasn't held them hostage and launched sharp attacks at Nath. Govind Singh, who was a minister, said Nath rarely listened to their concerns and only spoke about his constituency, Chindwara.
Quote
Everyone in Congress is unhappy, said Singh
"Even if you ask the remaining Congress MLAs who have been taken to Jaipur, they too will say they are unhappy. They will come to Bangalore if they are given freedom," he said. He also demanded security alleging threats from Nath.
Allegiance
One MLA said she would jump into well for Scindia
When asked about Scindia's big decision, the MLAs said they stood by him. "He taught us a lot. I have been working with him for the past 20 years. I will always stay with him. Even if he says jump in a well, I will," said MLA Imarti Devi. And Silawat Tulsiram said they want to return to MP, but they aren't "safe" there.