Kamal Nath meets governor, says govt ready for floor test
BHOPAL: Expressing the readiness of his government for a floor test in the Assembly, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath on Friday accused the BJP of holding 22 Congress MLAS in captivity.
Nath said he will welcome a floor test in the assembly, whose budget session is beginning from March 16, on a date fixed by the speaker.
The chief minister made the statement after calling on Governor Lalji Tandon here, his first meeting since rebellion by a section of Congress MLAS three days ago which pushed his government into crisis.
He also submitted to the governor a three-page letter in which he accused the BJP of being involved in horse- trading and holding the rebel Congress MLAS in captivity. The opposition BJP has consistently denied the Congress charge of poaching MLAS to topple its government.
“I wished Governor on the occasion of Holi. Our 22 MLAS are being held captive. I have submitted a letter to him alleging horset rading by t he BJP. I have demanded that these MLAS be released immediately. Floor test can be held anytime,” Nath told reporters.
His letter said, “As a responsible leader of Indian National Congress, I invite and would welcome a floor test of my government in the forthcoming session of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly already notified from March 16, 2020, on a date fixed by the Speaker. This is the minimum a constitutional authority can offer to address the ongoing turmoil.”
“We request your excellency may use your good office as constitutional Head of the state with the Union Home Minister to ensure the release of MLAS held captive in Bengaluru. We expect enquiry and investigation in the resignation letters submitted by the BJP allegedly of the captive
Congress MLAS and its timely completion,” the letter said.
Nath mentioned the sequence of events from the intervening night of March 3-4 to March 10, and claimed there were incidents of horse-trading during this period.
“In the first attempt (of horse trading), on 3rd/4th of March 2020, the mid-night drama leading to whisking away the MLAS to Bengaluru is in public domain,” he said in the letter.
“O n Ma r c h 8 , t h e B J P arranged three chartered aircraft to whisk away 19 MLAS of the Congress to Bengaluru. Since then these 19 MLAS, of who six are cabinet ministers, are incommunicado in the resort arranged by the BJP,” the chief minister said.
Nath pointed out that senior BJP l e a d e r s r e a c he d t he speaker’s residence on March 10 to handover 19 resignation letters allegedly of these Congress MLAS.
“The resignation of 19 Congress MLAS are submitted by BJP leaders... This demonstrates the complicity of BJP in the conspiracy and illegal action... In these circumstances, the edifice of democracy is in danger,” he said.