KAMAL NATH SINGH LED CONGRESS GOVERNMENT ON A VERGE OF COLLAPSE AS 22 MLAs LEAVES THE PARTY: MADHYA PRADESH

MADHYA PRADESH: The recent events have come as a massive setback for the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh as 22 prominent MLAs has submitted their resignation to the party. The Kamal Nath led government might eventually collapse amidst all the conundrum. 

Jyotiraditya Scindia, a significant youth leader of the party, decided to quit the party which came as a substantial shock to the party. Twenty-two other MLAs who are associated with Scindia and are loyal to him also handed over their resignation. All these events have led to a fifteen-month-old Congress government in Madhya Pradesh to come to the brink of collapse.

Scindia has shown significant interest in joining the BJP, as speculations are being made that he will be assigned a ticket in Rajya Sabha and also be given a prominent seat in the central ministry. Late grandmother of Scindia, Vijaya Raje Scindia was a significant leader of the BJP government.

The sources from BJP has indicated that the 49- year- old Scindia, who had been a Union Minister previously and four times Lok Sabha Member of the Parliament is likely to join BJP in a day or two and provisions for the same are ongoing. The confirmation will be available before 13th March, the last day for the filing of nominations.

In the light of these events, Congress has expelled Scindia on the charges of anti-party activities. On 10th March 2020, when the whole country was immersed in the Holi celebration, Jyotiraditya Scindia met Home Minister Amit Shah and then proceeded to call the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi at his residence 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. No official statements have been released as to what was discussed in the meeting. Scindia’s decision to quit Congress is being celebrated as “ Ghar Wapsi” by his parental aunt Yashodhara Raje, a BJP MLA from Madhya Pradesh.

Jyotiraditya Scindia had submitted his resignation to the President of the Congress party, Mrs Sonia Gandhi dated on 9th March 2020. The letter was received at 12:20 pm on Tuesday. 

KAMAL NATH GOVERNMENT IN TURMOIL

The Congress govt is set to be reduced to a minority if all the supporting MLAs of Scindia resignations will be accepted. The total count of Congress prior to all the rebellion was 114, which is a delicate majority out of total count- 228. Congress has an extended support of four independent MLAs, two BSP MLAs and one SP MLA. They are also likely to switch sides. If the resignations of the 22 MLAs will be accepted the total count of the assembly will reduce to 206. Out of this Congress will be left with 92 seats, BJP with 107 seats and the majority for forming the government will be 104 seats.

An embassy of leaders from BJP met the Assembly Speaker Prajapati in Bhopal and submitted the resignation letters of 19 Congress MLAs. These MLAs are allegedly being held up in a resort in Bengaluru. Bhupendra Singh claimed that the resignations were in the MLAs own handwriting and that the congress government has lost its majority. Three more MLAs from Congress in Bhopal also handed over their resignation. After receiving the departures, Kamal Nath wrote to the governor asking for their removal.

The total number of MLA resignations may total up to thirty. 

SCINDIA LOOKING TOWARDS A FRESH START

In his letter to President Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Scindia has stated that it was now best for him to look for a fresh start. 

He claimed that he had been a significant member of the Congress party for a long time and that now it was time for him to move on. He also indicated that the events leading up to the resignations had been going on for more than a year. Jyodiraditya Scindia was a Congress member for about 18 years.

He said that he was unable to fulfil his primary aim of serving the people of the country from within the party. He believes that to help his people and workers he needs to look for a fresh start.

The decision of Scindia is not being welcomed by the congress leaders who are accusing him of anti-party activities. Accusations are being made that the leader has valued his personal ambitions over the collective party interests. Many leaders also consider it as a big blow to the Congress government. Various congress members are highly condemning this act.

The result of all this turmoil is pointing towards the collapse of Congress led state government in Madhya Pradesh.