The letter war between Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon and Chief Minister Kamal Nath intensified further on Tuesday. Kamal Nath wrote to the governor again, saying that the point made by Tandon in his letter of March 16—that the (Congress-led) government would be deemed to be in minority if a floor test was not conducted and majority not proven by March 17—is unconstitutional as it is baseless.
Kamal Nath, while mentioning that the BJP had approached the Supreme Court in the matter, had written to the governor that he had forwarded Tandon's letter of March 16 to the Assembly speaker for a proper decision. Kamal Nath also marked a copy of the letter to the speaker.
He also raised the allegation again that 16 MLAs of Congress were held in 'captive-like' situation in Bengaluru by the BJP and they were offered enticements as well as being pressured and threatened to give particular statements before the media. Kamal Nath also attached a copy of a complaint made by the brother of Manoj Choudhary. one of the MLAs, to governor, with his letter.
Kamal Nath urged that governor that these MLAs should be freed and allowed to remain in free mind at their homes for few days, so that they could take proper decisions.
Kamal Nath had reiterated in his letter that the BJP can bring in a no-confidence motion in the house in case it felt that the government had lost its majority and get the floor test done. He said that during the past 15 years, he had proven his majority in the house several times.
Kamal Nath also mentioned again in his letter that he was of the understanding that the BJP has already moved a no-confidence motion and it was pending before the speaker for a decision. “When the speaker takes action on the motion as per the house rules, it will become clear that we (Congress-led ruling dispensation) has majority in the house,” Kamal Nath said in the letter.
Kamal Nath started the fresh letter on a somewhat emotional note, saying that in the 40 years of his political life, he had always adhered to honour and dignity and he was sad that the governor has accused him of not upholding parliamentary dignity in the letter of March 16. “I had no such intention and if you felt that way, I express regret,” Kamal Nath said.
SC notice
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh to give by Wednesday its response to a plea by former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, seeking a direction for an immediate floor test in the Assembly.
A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud on Tuesday said it will issue notice to the state government and others, including the secretary of the legislative Assembly, for Wednesday at 10.30am.
Chouhan and nine other BJP lawmakers, including leader of opposition in the state Assembly, moved the Supreme Court on Monday just after Speaker N.P. Prajapati cited coronavirus concerns and adjourned the house till March 26 without taking the floor test, apparently defying Governor Lalji Tandon's directions.
(With PTI inputs)
