Congress leader thwarts no-trust motion against BJP govt in MP

Joins hands with ruling party, accepts primary membership

In an unprecedented high voltage drama in state assembly on Thursday deputy leader of opposition Congress Choudhury Rakesh Singh Chaturvedi stalled no-confident motion brought by his own party against the ruling government, before joining the BJP. The ruling BJP members created ruckus in Assembly after Chaturvedi's thwarted discussion on no-confidence motion. The speaker adjourned the House sine-die without allowing debate on the motion.

After call attention motion today, when Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh began to speak on no-confidence motion, his own party colleague Choudhury Rakesh Singh Chaturvedi raised his objection to the motion and raised objection to the motion on three grounds; Raghavji’s misconduct while holding position of power, government’s response on missing pilgrims in Uttrakhand disaster and a “tweet” that carried some “insulting” remarks against children.

To which BJP member and state industry minister Kailash Vijavergiya raised point-of-order and said when deputy leader of opposition has objected to the no-confidence motion, it had become null and void. A debate was not possible.

Later BJP members created a din in assembly and did not allow Ajay Singh or any other member of his party to speak except for a senior Congress member Narendra Prasad Prajapati who could not be heard amid uproar.

Amid pandemonium, parliamentary affairs minister Narottam Mishra proposed to adjourn the house. The speaker accepted the proposal and adjourned the monsoon session sine-die. This was the last session of the 13th assembly since assembly elections are scheduled in November this year.

Soon after the session was adjourned Rakesh Chaturvedi moved to state BJP office where he was welcomed by state BJP president Narendra Singh Tomar and offered primary membership. Chaturvedi accepted the membership and joined BJP fold by saying that he would stick to politics of principles.

Meanwhile, leader of opposition Ajay Singh termed Chaturvedi a traitor and said it had never happened in history of state Congress. “I told several news channels and media men this morning that BJP would stall the proceedings of no-confidence motion since names of family members of state chief minister were included in it. They wanted to evade replies since it would have exposed the chief minister.” Singh further said he (Chaturvedi) might have been offered a suitcase and some position in the party. “Without such lucrative offers none becomes traitor, and it was possible in BJP only,” Singh said adding his party would go to divisional level to lobby against BJP for such “dirty” politics.