MP political crisis LIVE: Nath says will prove majority as Scindia quits

After remaining 'incommunicado' for hours, Jyotiraditya Scindia finally resigned from the Congress party. Read live updates on Madhya Pradesh political crisis

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday resigned from the party and is all set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shortly, taking 22 legislators with him—an event that may pull down the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh.

Moments after Scindhia flagged by Home Minister Amit Shah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a shell-shocked Congress, in a largely symbolic move of no consequence expelled him from the primary membership of the party. In the resignation letter dated March 9 to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Scindia said "It is now time for me to move on" as he was unable to serve the people of the country while remaining in the party.

Congress has a wafer-thin majority in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly whose current effective strength is 228. If the resignations of the 17 MLAs is accepted, the strength of the Assembly will fall to 211. The magic number for retaining the majority then will be 106. The Congress, however, will be left with 97 seats while the BJP has 104 seats.

ALSO READ: Madhya Pradesh CM writes to guv for removal of 6 ministers from MP cabinet

2:58 AM

Scindia's exit reignites 'old versus young' debate

The exit of Jyotiraditya Scindia signals the deepening leadership crisis in the Congress which continues to grapple with factionalism and growing power struggles between old and young leaders.

 

The fact that Scindia failing to get an audience with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, as pointed out by sources, reinforces the grudge many hold in the party about the high command becoming progressively distant. Scindia's departure is seen as a big blow to the Congress, which lost a prominent young face, but it is also feared that his revolt may trigger a wave of dissensions in the party where youngsters have long felt sidelined by veterans.

2:55 AM

Crisis in MP: Nath's confidant Verma to fly to Bengaluru

Madhya Pradesh minister Sajjan Singh Verma, a confidant of Chief Minister Kamal Nath, will fly to Bengaluru on Tuesday night and try to woo back the Congress MLAs who are staying there, sources said. These legislators are among 22 Congress MLAs who have resigned from the Assembly.

2:50 AM

`Resort politics' starts in MP: Cong, BJP to move MLAs to unknown locations

Both the ruling Congress and opposition BJP in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday decided to herd their respective MLAs to undisclosed locations to prevent attempts to `poach' them. A rattled Congress, which witnessed 22 of its MLAs resigning, decided to take remaining 92 legislators to an undisclosed location. "We are going to take our 92 MLAs who are supporting the state government to possibly some hotel," a senior Congress leader said.

2:39 AM

Cong leaders slam Scindia, say he chose 'personal ambition' over ideology

Several Congress leaders slammed Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday for quitting the party, accusing him of betraying the trust of the people and placing "personal ambition" over ideology.

 

Hitting out at Scindia, many Congress leaders referred to the 1857 revolt against the East India Company and the role of the Scindia royals back then as well as Vijaya Raje Scindia's switch from the Congress in 1967.

11:39 PM

'Resort politics' returns as Scindia quits; Cong scrambles to save MP govt

As many as 22 Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh resigned on Tuesday, putting survival of the Kamal Nath-led government in the state in doubt. The development came on the day senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, to whose faction the 22 MLAs including six ministers belonged, announcing that he had quit the party. Both Congress and opposition BJP held meetings of their legislature wings on Tuesday evening, and decided to move their respective MLAs to unknown locations. Read More Here

11:07 PM

Congress leaders head to Bengaluru

Congress leaders Sajjan Singh Verma and Dr Govind Singh have left for Bengaluru. They will meet some of the 19 rebel MLAs and try and convince them to return to the party.

Madhya Pradesh Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Govind Singh addresses Congress legislature party meeting at CM's residence in Bhopal. PTI

10:13 PM

Congress scrambles leaders for MP

Congress leaders Mukul Wasnik, Harish Rawat and Deepak Babaria left for Bhopal. They will reach Bhopal late night today.

9:55 PM

Kamal Nath on future of Cong govt

There is nothing to worry about, we will prove our majority. Our government will complete its term, says CM Kamal Nath.

9:45 PM

We are going either to Bengaluru or Delhi: BJP MLAs

9:42 PM

Watch | BJP MLAs singing after CLP meeting

9:06 PM

Resolution passed in the Congress legislative party meet in Bhopal

Congress legislative party condemns the unfortunate manner in which attempt has been made to insult the people's mandate by satisfying the personal ambitions of Jyotiraditya Scindia. 

8:19 PM

The government has no threat, we will prove the majority: Congress MLA

Meeting (legislative part meet) was good. All Congress MLAs, including independents, were present. We have the number,we'll fight this together. MLAs who were rounded up were told that Scindia ji has to demand a Rajya Sabha seat so they need to come together. But when the talks of him (Jyotiraditya Scindia) going to BJP started, these MLAs became angry. They are all in contact with the Chief Minister. The government has no threat, we will prove the majority in the Assembly.

 

7:54 PM

MP BJP legislative party meeting is underway in Bhopal

7:52 PM

Keeping tabs on MP developments, will take decision after reaching Raj Bhavan: Guv

On a day when Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress and 22 MLAs close to him resigned from the Madhya Pradesh assembly, Governor Lalji Tandon said he is keeping tabs on political developments and will take a decision only after reaching the Raj Bhavan in Bhopal. Tandon is currently in Lucknow to celebrate Holi with his family and made the remarks in a conversation with an English news channel over the phone.

 

When asked whether the Governor House (Raj Bhavan) is keeping tabs on the prevailing situation in Madhya Pradesh, he said, "Yes, yes definitely. Whatever decision I have to take, I will do so once I reach the Raj Bhavan." When asked as to when will he return Bhopal, Tandon said he was on leave till March 12 to celebrate Holi with his family.

7:47 PM

MP Cong meet underway, 22 party MLAs, 3 of allies skip

Amid the crisis caused by resignations of 22 legislators, meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) in Madhya Pradesh began here on Tuesday evening, with 92 of 114 party MLAs attending it. The 22 MLAs, who have resigned from the Assembly and most of whom are supporters of Jyotiraditya Scindia who quit the Congress earlier on Tuesday, were absent, sources said. Two BSP MLAs and the lone SP MLA supporting the Congress government too skipped the meeting, spelling more trouble for the Kamal Nath-led Congress government which is on the brink of collapse, sources added.