MP Congress moves Supreme Court, accuses BJP of 'kidnapping MLAs' despite their denial

Amid the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress Legislative Party on Tuesday has moved to the Supreme Court accusing the BJP of kidnapping its 16 MLAs. The CLP has also sought directions for their MLAs release from BJP's captivity. The rebel Congress MLAs are presently in a Bengaluru resort and have demanded security for their safe comeback to  Bhopal. Contradicting Congress' claims of MLAs being kidnapped and being held hostage, rebel Congress leader Govind Singh Rajput assured that the group of rebel legislators were in Bengaluru 'willingly'.

Earlier, on Monday, the Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon yet again wrote to Chief Minister Kamal Nath urging him to hold floor test on March 17, sources said. This came even as the assembly Speaker adjourned the session till March 26 citing coronavirus scare, earlier in the day. Meanwhile, the BJP moved the Supreme Court against the Speaker. The plea was filed by the party is Shivraj Singh Chouhan vs Speaker NP Prajapati and it urged the top court to order a floor test to ensure a stable government in Madhya Pradesh.

READ | Congress Refutes Rebel MLAs' Own Account; Insists They're Being Held Captive By BJ

Rebel MLAs contradict Congress' claims

Addressing a press briefing in Bengaluru he blamed Congress CM Kamal Nath for not hearing their ideas and demands for their respective constituencies, for even '15 minutes.' 

"When the Madhya Pradesh government was formed, we were there in the opposition for 15 years. When the government was formed Rahul Gandhi brought two faces in light--Scindia Ji and Kamal Nath Ji. Scindia Ji was not made the CM, rather Kamal Nath Ji became the CM of MP. We thought everything will continue to be normal, but the CM's behaviour changed later," he said.

Congress refutes rebel MLAs' own account

After the much-awaited floor test in Madhya Pradesh was cancelled and the house was adjourned till March 26, state Law Minister PC Sharma on Tuesday lauded the Speaker's move, claiming that the BJP was holding the rebel Congress MLAs 'captive'. He also reiterated the demand that the MLAs should be brought back to the State for the floor test, even as the MLAs denied any such 'hostage' situation. 

"The press conference should be held in Bhopal if they are not afraid. They are being held captive by BJP there. Why was the press conference held in Bengaluru and not Bhopal? We have written to the Home Minister too. They should be brought back for the floor test to be held," Sharma said.

READ | BIG: Rebel Scindia-camp Congress MLAs Say They Won't Join BJP Right Now; Cite MP Speaker

Madhya Pradesh political crisis

The crisis in the Kamal Nath government started when Congress alleged BJP of poaching 4 MLAs - Surendra Singh Shera, Bisahulal Singh, Hardeep Singh Dang, and Raghuraj Kansana when they were flown to Bengaluru. While two of them have returned to Kamal Nath's folds, 18 MLAs including six Cabinet Ministers - loyal to Scindia flew to Bengaluru on Monday. Though Kamal Nath dissolved his Cabinet, making 20 Ministers resign on Monday night at an apparent Cabinet rejig attempt, it failed and all six rebel Cabinet Ministers have been expelled.

In a major jolt to the Chief Minister, the former Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia formally submitted his resignation to Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday. He then formally joined the BJP after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter's residence along with former BJP party chief Amit Shah and has since then slammed the Congress saying 'it was not the same anymore'. He has since then been fielded by the BJP for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls.

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