MP government crisis: Jyotiraditya Scindia quits Congress; meets PM Modi
What's the story
Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, long viewed as a rival to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, on Tuesday held a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Scindia tendered his resignation amid reports that 19 MLAs in MP have also resigned, prompting the state government to consider a Cabinet rejig. Here are more details.
Details
Scindia's meeting with Modi raises speculations of him joining BJP
Reportedly, Scindia, along with Shah, met Modi at the PM's official residence. Meanwhile, the Congress party has reportedly been unable to reach Scindia. Former MP CM Digvijaya Singh on Monday night told reporters that Scindia had the swine flu. According to latest reports, Scindia has tendered his resignation to Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached Sonia's residence to discuss the matter.
Quote
Time for me to move on, says Scindia
Scindia's resignation letter—dated March 9—stated, "Having been a primary member of the Congress party for the last 18 years, it's now time for me to move on." It added, "While my aim and purpose remain the same as it has always been from the very beginning—to serve the people of my state and country—I believe I'm unable to do this anymore within this party."
Twitter Post
You can view Scindia's resignation letter here
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) March 10, 2020
Political situation
'Conspiracy to topple MP government'
Singh had told reporters that there is a "conspiracy to topple the government." The Congress government in MP has 120 MLAs, just over the 116 majority mark in the 230-member state assembly. The BJP, on the other hand, has 107 MLAs. If the Congress government in MP fails, it will be the second since the collapse of the Congress-JDS government in Karnataka last year.
Later developments
Congress blames BJP; party orders Scindia's expulsion
Singh claimed to have evidence that the three chartered planes, which flew to Bengaluru, were arranged by the BJP. Separately, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said that Sonia Gandhi has ordered Scindia's expulsion from the party with immediate effect over "anti-party activities." Meanwhile, Congress leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary, said, "I don't think our government in Madhya Pradesh will survive."
Twitter Post
Big loss for Congress party, says Chaudhary
Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary, Congress leader in Lok Sabha: So yes it will indeed be a loss to our party and I don't think our Govt in Madhya Pradesh will survive. This is the present-day politics of BJP, always tries to topple and destabilize opposition govts https://t.co/XkiPiEwIjO pic.twitter.com/kM7RSbZihn
— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020
Recent events
19 Congress MLAs flown to BJP-ruled Karnataka
Scindia had been upset with the Congress leadership in the state with his marginalization in the affairs of MP Congress. On Monday night, reports emerged that Scindia had gone incommunicado as former CM Digvijaya Singh said that he had the swine flu. Subsequently, party MLAs were flown to BJP-ruled Karnataka by a chartered plane. 19 party MLAs, including six ministers, have since resigned.