Amid speculations that the Madhya Pradesh government might defer the upcoming budget session because of coronavirus threat, the opposition BJP has demanded an immediate floor test in the house, so that the Congress-led government could prove its majority.
A delegation of the BJP, including former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and leader of opposition Gopal Bhargava, met Governor Lalji Tandon on Friday afternoon to make the demand.
The budget session is scheduled to begin on March 16.
Speaking to media after meeting the governor, Chouhan said after the resignation of 22 MLAs, the Congress-led dispensation in the state has lost majority and has no constitutional right to continue in power. He said that in such circumstances there was no point in conducting a budget session or having the customary address of governor and therefore the BJP has demanded a floor test before the governor's address.
Chouhan further alleged that there was total mayhem in the state as the minority government led by the Congress, with the support of “anarchic elements”, was trying to horse trade with the BJP MLAs and creating undue direct or indirect pressure on them.
“They are being lured; their relatives are being harassed; old legal cases are being opened; threats are given on damage to property and so on. Every effort is being made to threaten the MLAs and put pressure on them. To prevent these horse trading attempts, immediate floor test is the only way out,” Chouhan said.
He added that the BJP delegation has urged the governor to take a decision under Article 175(2) to direct the government to seek a vote of confidence. “We have also urged the governor to ensure that the voting is not through voice vote but by proper division of votes undertaken by pushing the buttons. Also, arrangements of videography should be done and a governor-appointed observer should be present to ensure unbiased process,” Chouhan said.
Meanwhile, the Congress announced that a cabinet meeting and a meeting of its legislature party would be held on Sunday. This indicated that the Congress was planning to go ahead with the session.
Earlier in the day, however, legislative affairs minister Govind Singh said that the views of medical experts were being sought on whether deferment of the session was necessary due to the coronavirus threat.
Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who met the governor on Thursday, had expressed willingness to face the floor test on any date fixed by the speaker. He had also alleged horse trading attempts by the BJP and said that the Congress MLAs were being held captive in Bengaluru.
The BJP has isolated its MLAs in a hotel in Manesar of Harayana for past five days and sources said that the MLAs are not being allowed to use their mobile phones, meet relatives or even watch television. Political watchers said that this indicated apprehension among party leadership regarding attempted poaching in their camp. Sources said that the BJP plans to bring them back only in the nick of time of the commencement of Assembly session.
The 22 MLAs, who have resigned from the Congress, have similarly been isolated in Bengaluru. All these legislators have been asked to appear before the speaker by March 15 evening to confirm resignations.
The 90-odd Congress MLAs who are in Jaipur were likely to return by Sunday morning to be able to participate in the legislative party meeting.
