The constitutional crisis in Madhya Pradesh finally came to an end on Saturday, after nine days of confusion. Governor Ramnaresh Yadav advised Vidhan Sabha Speaker Ishwardas Rohani to convene a special session of the Assembly to discuss the no-confidence motion brought by the Congress.
The main Opposition party had been continuously urging the Governor to ask the Government and Speaker to convene a special session.
Yadav had not signed the notification regarding conclusion of the Monsoon Session of the House. Besides, 11 important Bills that have been cleared also need the Governor’s approval, along with the Supplementary Budget.
In past nine days, when the Governor did not sign the notification, it was expected that he might take stern action. During his recent visit to Delhi, Yadav also consulted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pranab Mukherjee in this regard.
On Thursday, leader of the Opposition Ajay Singh had also called on Yadav, and given several examples of how he could convene a special session. On Thursday evening, Rohani was summoned to Governor’s House. Soon after emerging from Raj Bhavan, the Speaker told reporters that there was no constitutional crisis.
Rohani had said, “The Governor can not instruct the Speaker. During our meeting, I informed him in detail about House proceedings and he was satisfied with my logic and my role as Speaker.” Rohani had further pointed out to mediapersons that the Speaker’s decision in the Assembly was final and no one could challenge it.
Moreover, the decision to convene an Assembly session is taken by the State Cabinet with the consent of the Governor. The latter can not order to convene a session; he could only suggest it, according to Rohani. Nonetheless, he added that the story a constitutional crisis had merely been cooked up by the media and there was truth in it.