Uncertainty continued on the fate of 19 Congress MLAs presently lodged in a private resort in Bengaluru. Amidst talks that they would reach Bhopal in the evening, Chief Minister Kamal Nath called on the Governor Lalji Tandon urging him that his party MLAs should be freed and brought back to Madhya Pradesh.
Meanwhile, the arrival of Congress rebels from Bengaluru was expected at Bhopal airport on Friday evening, but later it was cancelled.
Nath in a letter written to the governor, who returned from Lucknow on Thursday night, accused the BJP of indulging in horse trading for the past few days.
He questioned the manner in which the BJP leaders handed resignation of 19 MLAs to speaker NP Prajapati, alleging violation of constitutional procedures and transparency.
Nath in the missive also referred to Bengaluru incident in which Madhya Pradesh ministers –Jitu Patwari and Lakhan Singh were manhandled by ‘goons and Karnataka police’ as well.
Importantly, Nath mentioned in the letter that his government was open to a floor test on a date fixed by the speaker as assembly session starts from March 16.
The Chief Minister also urged Tandon to exercise his constitutional authority to ensure the MLAs held ‘captive’ at Bengaluru are freed.
After meeting the Governor Nath speaking to the media on being asked about the BJP demand of a floor test said, “You (BJP) can’t take MLAs hostage and then demand floor test.” For proving majority in the floor of the House, the MLAs should be allowed to exercise their franchise in free and fair manner, added Nath.
When asked to comment whether Assembly session could be postponed over coronavirus threat, Nath left the scene saying the corona virus has already entered politics in Madhya Pradesh.
Earlier, the Parliamentary Affairs minister Govind Singh had claimed that in the wake of corona virus Assembly session have been postponed in many states and the same is being considered in MP as well.
Singh also called on the speaker NP Prajapati objecting the manner in which the resignations of the 19 Congress MLAs were handed to him (speaker) by BJP leaders.
He also demanded a probe into the resignations of the said MLAs.