Madhya Pradesh Political Crisis Updates: Jyotiraditya Scindia likely to be inducted into BJP on 12 March, say reports; Congress loses 22 MLAs

Jyotiraditya Scindia likely to join BJP on 12 March

Various reports quoted sources as saying that Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the Congress on Tuesday, is likely to be inducted into the BJP in Bhopal on 12 March, Thursday. He is also likely to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha election on a ticket of the saffron party, News18 reported.

BJP legislative party meeting underway

The BJP’s legislative party meeting is underway at the party office in Bhopal. Union minister and MP from Damoh, Prahlad Patel and other senior leaders of the party are also present.

Madhya Pradesh: BJP's legislative party meeting is underway at the party office in Bhopal. Union Minister & MP from Damoh, Prahlad Patel and other senior leaders of the party are also present. pic.twitter.com/TUIEluhDUH

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020

A traitor is a traitor, says Congress

Congress leader Gaurav Pandhi minced no words in slamming Jyotiraditya Scindia for resigning from the Congress and planning to join the BJP. The Indian Express quoted Pandhi as saying, “A traitor is a traitor and no amount of arguments and reasoning can justify treachery. Period!”

Dear @JM_Scindia ji,

Got guts and have it in you to really make a difference in politics? Then form your own party and win to become CM of MP, instead of piggybacking the BJP & losing all the respect against your morals.

How many here think he has the mettle to pull it off?

— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) March 10, 2020

Pradyot Deb Barman says Scindia ‘chose what’s best for him’

Former Congress leader Pradyot Deb Barman said that Jyotiraditya Scindia had quit the Sonia Gandhi-led party because he “chose what is best for him”.

He was quoted by NDTV as saying, “Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party, he chose what was best for him.  I’m more worried about the future of the Congress party. If Rahul Gandhi does not believe in supporting us, why did he bring us.”

Soon Congress will have only Rahul, Sonia, says BJP

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said that soon the Congress will only have two leaders, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, after former party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia tendered his resignation on Tuesday.

“How many leaders are they going to expel? If they continue expelling their leaders like this, soon the day will come when only Sonia and Rahul Gandhi will be left in the Congress,” Hussain was quoted as saying by ANI.

“Congress is treating Sachin Pilot the same way they had treated Jyotiraditya Scindia. Congress does not include Pilot’s photos even in their hoardings. Supporters and youth leaders of their party are unsure of their future under Congress’ top leadership,” he added.

Meeting of Madhya Pradesh Congress ends

The meeting of the Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs which was chaired by Chief Minister Kamal Nath for the last two hours has ended, CNN-News18 reported. The Congress government in the state is facing a threat to its majority after former senior party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia tendered his resignation to Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday morning.

Twenty-two Congress MLAs loyal to Scindia followed suit over the course of the day.

MP governor monitoring situation from Lucknow

The Madhya Pradesh governor Lalji Tandom is monitoring the political developments in the state from Lucknow, India Today reported. He is unlikely to return to Bhopal before 12 March, the report said.

BJP CEC meeting underway

The BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting to decide on candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election is underway, with Union ministers Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, and BJP president JP Nadda in attendance. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at BJP headquarters in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/abPtHYQyzy

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020

Jyotiraditya Scindia may not join BJP today, say reports

There is ambiguity on whether former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia will be inducted into the BJP on Tuesday, hours after he quit the Sonia Gandhi-led party. 22 MLAs have followed suit and have resigned from the ruling party in Madhya Pradesh, leaving the Kamal Nath government facing a threat to its majority.

While CNN-News18 reported that the induction is likely to take place on Wednesday in light of the BJP’s CEC meeting scheduled for Tuesday, NDTV quoted sources as saying, “Once Amit Shah reaches the BJP headquarters, the entire process to inducting Jyotiraditya Scindia into the party will begin. The Prime Minister likely to come little late and the Central Election Committee meeting will begin.”

Narendra Modi arrives for the CEC meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the BJP headquarters in Delhi for the Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting to decide on the candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election.

Will follow protocol, says MP Speaker

Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati, after being given the resignation letters of 19 rebel Congress MLAs on Tuesday evening, said, “I will take action according to the established procedure of the state Assembly.”

#MadhyaPradesh Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati: I will take action according to the established procedure of the state Assembly. https://t.co/4trRj3HynI pic.twitter.com/huP8iP6sit

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020

Madhya Pradesh BJP submits rebel MLAs’ resignation letters to Speaker

Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Gopal Bhargava and other BJP leaders including Narottam Mishra, submitted the resignation letters of the 19 rebel Congress MLAs to the Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati.

#MadhyaPradesh: Leader of Opposition in state assembly Gopal Bhargava, Narottam Mishra, and other BJP leaders reach the residence of state assembly Speaker NP Prajapati to submit the resignations of 19 Congress MLAs. pic.twitter.com/voMcoKlxTt

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020

Narendra Modi to arrive in BJP HQ soon

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to arrive at the BJP headquarters in Delhi soon for the crucial legislature party meeting, CNN-News18 reported. The meeting is likely to overlap with the induction ceremony of former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, who resigned from the party on Tuesday morning.

Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda to attend ceremony

Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari and BJP president JP Nadda have arrived at the party headquarters in Delhi ahead of the ceremony to induct former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia into the saffron party, reports said. The ceremony is likely to take place at 6 pm on Tuesday evening.

The saffron party will also be holding a crucial legislature meeting later on Tuesday.

Delhi: Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah arrives at BJP Headquarters. pic.twitter.com/wuGz03dxcO

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020

Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari arrive at BJP headquarters. pic.twitter.com/h26SNj8rjQ

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020

Jyotiraditya Scindia reaches Delhi residence

Former senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia  has arrived in Delhi ahead of joining the BJP in the presence of Union ministers Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari in the National Capital on Tuesday. Scindia refused to comment on the development.

#WATCH Jyotiraditya Scindia arrives at his residence in Delhi; says,"Happy Holi". pic.twitter.com/oXgi8M2rHk

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020

Wait for Kamal Nath’s masterstroke, says Congress

Madhya Pradesh Congress leader PC Sharma, one being asked if the party has enough MLAs to save the Kamal Nath government from falling in the state, said, “Certainly a new thing will come up. You will get to see Kamal Nath’s masterstroke.”

At least 22 MLAs of the party resigned on Tuesday after former senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party.

BJP leader says 30 Congress MLAs likely to resign

Uttar Pradesh BJP leader Bhupendra Singh arrived in Bhopal as the political developments on Tuesday threatened the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh.

He said, “I have come to Bhopal with the resignations of 19 MLAs who are currently in Bengaluru. The number can increase till 30 by evening as many people are willing to join BJP.”

Bhupendra Singh,BJP: I have come to Bhopal with the resignations of 19 MLAs who are currently in Bengaluru. The number can increase till 30 by evening as many people are willing to join BJP. #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/0joNeJoFRf

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020

Total of 22 MLAs, six ministers resign

While a total of 22 Congress MLAs have resigned from the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the 19 MLAs who first tendered their resignations include Hardeep Singh Dang, Rajyavardhan Singh, Brajendra Singh Yadav, Jaspal Jajji, Suresh Dhakad, Jaswant Jatav, Santram Sironia, Munnalal Goyal, Ranveer Singh Jatav, OPS Bhadoria, Kamlesh Jatav, Giriraj Dandotiya, Raghuraj Kansana, Biasahulal Singh.

Apart from them, six ministers Tulsi Silawat, Govind Singh Rajput, Dr Prabhuram Choudhry, Imarti Devi, Pradyumna Singh Tomar, and Mahendra Singh Sisodia have also quit the Kamal Nath government.

Another Congress MLA quits, tally now at 22

Bringing the tally of Congress MLAs who have quit the Madhya Pradesh Assembly to 22, another Congress MLA Manoj Choudhary from the Hatpipliya constituency in Dewas, has also tendered his resignation, ANI reported.

Another Congress MLA resigns

Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA from Sumawali in Morena, Adal Singh Kansana, on Tuesday tendered his resignation as member of Legislative Assembly. Several other MLAs of the ruling party in the state have already sent their resignations to Speaker NP Prajapati after former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party.

MP BJP workers say ‘Diwali’ coming soon

Members of the Madhya Pradesh BJP on Tuesday celebrated the Holi festival at the party headquarters in the state while a political crisis gripped the Kamal Nath government in the state after Jyotiraditya Scindia tendered his resignation.

A woman activist, however, said they are elated because of Holi and in view of the early onset of “Diwali”, hinting at uncertainty prevailing over survival of the Kamal Nath government, PTI reported.

Personal ambition is reason for Scindia’s decision, says Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, reacting to Jyotiraditya Scindia’s resignation from the party, said that ideology didn’t matter to the former Congress leader and that “political convenience” and “personal ambition” had resulted in the decision.

“It is sad news for the Congress party because Jyotiraditya Scindia had been nurtured by the party over the years. He had been entrusted with important jobs by the party. But now the situation had come to such a pass that he found it more convenient to switch over to the other party,” Chowdhury was quoted by News18 as saying.

How the numbers are stacked in Madhya Pradesh Assembly 

Here is how the number game could play out for the Kamal Nath government in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly:

The Madhya Pradesh Assembly has a strength of 230 MLAs, of which the Congress had won 114 seats in the October 2018 election. However, while the party won the highest number of seats, it was one seat short of the halfway mark. 

The Congress formed the government under Nath with the support from the BSP, who has four MLAs, and SP, who has one MLA. On the other hand, the BJP has 109 MLAs and there are four Independent MLAs in the House.​

If the resignation of 19 Congress MLAs — who are loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia who also resigned from the party on Tuesday morning — are accepted by the Speaker NP Prajapati, the strength of the Assembly will come down to 209, making the halfway mark 105 seats.

Hence, the Congress will having just 95 MLAs, while the saffron party would still have109 MLAs, which is a comfortable margin for the party to form the government.

Kamal Nath seeks to remove six Madhya Pradesh ministers

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath wrote to the state governor ​Lalji Tandon and recommended the immediate removal of six ministers, ANI reported. The six ministers are Imarti Devi, Tulsi Silavat, Govind Singh Rajput, Mahendra Singh Sisodia, Pradyuman Singh Tomar, and Prabhu Ram Chaudhary.

SP, BSP MLAs meet Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Two Madhya Pradesh MLAs of the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have arrived at the residence of BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The meeting comes after Jyotiraditya Scindia tendered his resignation from the Congress, after which the party expelled the senior leader for “anti-party activities”.

However, regarding the meeting with SP and BSP MLAs, Chouhan said, “They have just come here to meet me on the occasion of Holi. There is no politics in it.”

Madhya Pradesh: SP MLA Rajesh Shukla and BSP MLA Sanjeev Kushwaha arrive at the residence of BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan. pic.twitter.com/YaNT1EJ5Gj

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020

Yashodhara Scindia says Jyotiraditya’s resignation is ‘ghar wapsi’

BJP leader Yashodhara Scindia, aunt of Jyotiraditya Scindia, on Tuesday said that she “congratulates” him for resigning from the Sonia Gandhi-led party.

She said , “I am very happy and congratulate him. This is ‘ghar vapasi’. Madhavrao Scindia had started his political career with Jan Sangh. Jyotiraditya was being neglected in Congress.”

Congress MLAs in Bengaluru ask for police protection

The 19 Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs who are in Bengaluru have written a letter to the Karnataka DGP asking for police protection after Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from the party and is set to join the BJP.

ANI quoted the MLAs’ letter as saying, “We’ve come to Karnataka voluntarily for some important work, regarding which we require protection for our safe movement and stay in and around Bangaluru”.

19 Congress MLAs, who are staying in Bengaluru, write a letter to Karnataka DGP, demanding protection&police escort. Letter reads, "We've come to Karnataka voluntarily for some important work, regarding which we require protection for our safe movement&stay in& around Bangaluru". https://t.co/pHiIM3uJtm

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020

Congress says ready to sit in Opposition

Congress leader Lakshman Singh said that the party should be ready to sit in the Opposition, amid the political development threatening the Madhya Pradhesh government under Kamal Nath. “Whatever happened let it be. Now we should be ready to sit in the Opposition. In the future, Congress again will form the government. I don’t think there will be much number game. We will meet the chief minister and discuss it,” he said.  

India Today also quoted Singh as saying, “It doesn’t look like the government will last… we should be ready to sit in the Opposition benches, " and added that they are his personal views.

On the other hand, Congress leader Kantilal Bhuria, who met Nath on Tuesday afternoon, said , “The state government is strong and it will continue to run. The government is not going to fall because someone is saying so. We have required number of MLAs.”

Scindia betrayed trust of people, says Ashok Gehlot

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot slammed Jyotiraditya Scindia for resigning from the Congress and said that Scindia had betrayed the trust of the people and their ideology. “Such people proves they can’t thrive without power. Sooner they leave the better,” he added, in a tweet.

Joining hands with BJP in a time of national crisis speaks volumes about a leaders self-indulgent political ambitions. Especially when the BJP ruining the economy, democratic institutions, social fabric and as well the Judiciary.
1/2

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) March 10, 2020

Time for Rahul Gandhi to lead, says Dinesh Gundu Rao

Karnataka Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao said that it was time for former party president Rahul Gandhi to “lead from the front”, after senior party leader in Madhya Pradesh Jyotiraditya Scindia tendered his resignation on Tuesday.

“It’s time for him (Rahul) and the senior leaders to make drastic changes at the top. We can’t go on like this anymore,” Rao said.

Whatever may happen in Madhya Pradesh, one thing is clear.

It’s time for @RahulGandhi to lead from the front.

It’s time for him and the senior leaders to make drastic changes at the top.
We can’t go on like this anymore.@INCIndia needs him and he needs the party.

— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) March 10, 2020

Scindia to join BJP at 6 pm

After resigning from the Congress, Jyotiraditya Scindia is set to join the BJP at 6 pm, News18 reported.

Additionally, Congress MLA Bisahu Lal Sahu joined the BJP in the presence of the saffron party’s leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan. “I have resigned from the Congress as well as from the membership of State Assembly. I have joined BJP. Most of the Congress MLAs will resign from the Congress in coming days as they are fed up with the functioning of Kamal Nath government,” he said.

Cong youth wing chief thanks Sonia for expelling Scindia

Indian Youth Congress (IYC) chief Srinivas BV slammed Jyotiraditya Scindia, who has announced his resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, and thanked party chief Sonia Gandhi for expelling the former Guna MP “who was promoting anti-party activities and factionalism”.

“The history of 1857 and 1967 was once again repeated,” Srinivas BV said, referring to the 1857 Revolt against East India Company and the role of the Scindia royals back then as well as Vijayaraje Scindia’s switch from the Congress to the Jana Sangh in 1967. “I would like to thank Congress president Sonia Gandhiji for taking the strong steps. o person is, nor will be greater than the party,” the IYC chief said.

Karnataka, Maharashtra among states to have seen resort politics

17  lawmakers from the Madhya Pradesh Congress were allegedly flown to Bengaluru and lodged in a resort. Decrying the BJP’s attempt to topple the Kamal Nath government in the state, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that the party had evidence to believe that the three chartered planes that ferried the MLAs were arranged by the saffron party. Hours later, 19 MLAs, including six state ministers resigned from the Congress. This is not the first state to witness resort politics.

Amid the imbroglio following the Maharashtra Assembly polls last year, the NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena combine pondered moving its MLAs to resorts to avoid poaching even as Devendra Fadnavis took oath as CM after now state home minister Ajit Pawar lent support to the BJP.

In July 2019, after rebel MLAs from the ruling Congress-JD(S) combine in Karnataka tendered their resignations, the parties herded their MLAs in luxury stays to keep their flock intact. The BJP too kept its MLAs at a luxury resort even as the ruling combine fought to keep its 13-month-old government in power as 16 MLAs resigned.

After O Panneerselvam resigned as Chief Minister in 2017 and accused the then AIADMK leader VK Sasikala of forcing him to do so, Sasikala took matters into her own hands and sent loyal MLAs to a resort near Chennai.

In 2016, after the Congress government in Uttarakhand booted out rebel MLAs, the BJP flew its legislators to a hotel in Jaipur ahead of a confidence vote by former Chief Minister Harish Rawat. The Congress later lost the Assembly elections in 2017.

19 MP Congress MLAs tender resignation

Following in the footsteps of Jyotiraditya Scindia, 19 Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh, who are currently staying at a resort in Bengaluru, tendered their resignations from the party. Their resignation brings down the Assembly strength to 209 and the number of Congress MLAs to 95.

19 Congress MLAs including six state ministers from Madhya Pradesh who are in Bengaluru, tender their resignation from the assembly after Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from the party. pic.twitter.com/ljTF7p90BV

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020

How the political will impact MP Assembly numbers

The Madhya Pradesh assembly has a strength of 230 members. The death of two members reduces the effective strength to 228 and the majority mark is 115. Currently, the Congress has 114 MLAs, BJP has 109 MLAs, BSP has 2 members, Samajwadi Party has one member and four lawmakers are independent. 
 

The Congress enjoys majority with the support of BSP and SP MLAs, taking its strength to 117. But the number has come down to 98 with the resignation by 19 MLAs, bringing down the Assembly strength to 209 and the majority mark to 105. With 109 MLAs, the BJP will be in the position to form a  government, trumping the Congress.

14 rebel Congres MLAs send resignation to MP governor

Fourteen of the rebel MLAs loyal to Joyitraditya Scindia have sent their resignations to the Madhya Pradesh governor and Assembly speaker, reports claimed. The acceptance of these resignations would put the Kamal Nath government in the minority position in the 230-member Assembly.

Toppling Opposition governments is BJP’s politics: Adhir ranjan Chowdhury

Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that Scindia may have gotten lured by the offer of minister ship made by Narendra Modi. “He held many senior posts in Congress party and was well respected. We know his family has been associated with BJP for decades, but yet his exit is a big loss,” he said.

Chowdhury said that the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh may not survive and slammed the BJP’s “present-day politics” of trying to topple and destabilize opposition governments.

Digvijaya Singh says Cong has proof BJP arranged planes that took MLAs to Bengaluru

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that the party has evidence that the party has evidence that three chartered planes, which reportedly flew Congress MLAs to Bengaluru, were arranged by the BJP. “This is part of a conspiracy to reverse the mandate of people of Madhya Pradesh because Kamal Nath has acted against mafias,” he said.

Congress expels Scindia for ‘anti-party activities

Through a statement issued by its senior leader KC Venugopal, the Congress announced that Jyotiraditya Scindia has been expelled from the party for “anti-party activities”.

KC Venugopal, Congress: The Congress President has approved the expulsion of Jyotiraditya Scindia from the Indian National Congress with immediate effect for anti-party activities. https://t.co/NpsGIvfmJR pic.twitter.com/AF10ZyqtJE

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020

Scindia resigns from Congress

Hours after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from the Congress party. In his resignation letter addressed to interim party chief Sonia Gandhi, he wrote that he is unable to fulfil his aim of serving the people through the Congress. He added that a “fresh start” to work towards the “aspirations of his people”.

pic.twitter.com/DWSKdYO0jG

— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) March 10, 2020

Meeting underway in BJP’s Bhopal office

Meanwhile, a meeting is underway at BJP office in Bhopal. Senior leaders including Shivraj Singh Chouhan, VD Sharma and Vinay Sahasrabuddhe are present, reports news agency ANI.

‘No comments’: Digvijay Singh on Scindia meeting Modi, Shah

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Tuesday said that he had “no idea why Jyotiraditya Scindia met Narendra Modi and Amit Shah” after Scindia met Shah in Delhi. He also added that the BJP is lying about no role in the crisis, they are trying to topple Madhya Pradesh government.

Scindia meets Amit Shah, Modi

In a massive political development, senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia met Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi on Tuesday morning. Scindia is likely to join the BJP later this evening, sources tell NDTV.

BJP to meet at 7 pm, Congress at 5 pm

The BJP has called its legislature party meeting at 7 pm, while the Congress will hold a similar meeting at 5 pm at the residence of the chief minister Kamal Nath amid the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh

Efforts being made to woo back Jyotiraditya Scindia

As crisis loomed over the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, party sources said on Tuesday that efforts were on to woo back the disgruntled leader and former MP Jyotiraditya Scindia who remained ‘incommunicado’. 

Seventeen MLAs, including at least six ministers, known to be Scindia loyalists, are currently in Bengaluru. Chief Minister Kamal Nath promised to reconstitute the state Cabinet after an emergency meeting late on Monday night. Following the meet, around 20 ministers resigned reposing faith in Nath’s leadership.