Congress lands knockout punch in MP by luring away two BJP MLAs

Two BJP MLAs Sharad Kol of Beohari and Narayan Tripathi of Maihar have cross-voted in favour of the ruling Congress party to help pass a Bill on prevention against mob lynching in Madhya Pradesh Assembly. The House was adjourned sine die after the bill was passed.

For all the nagging jabs that the BJP was able to land for the past seven months since the formation of the Congress government the ruling party delivered a knockout punch. The Bill for protection against mob lynching was passed 122 vs 107 after the BSP forced a division, apparently on the signal from the Congress.

The BJP has only been talking about the division of votes but never tried to precipitate the issue. The Congress not only called the BJP bluff, it also ensured the “minority” tag on the government is finally dropped.

The two BJP leaders responded to their inner voice, said Kamal Nath

An embarrassed Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava said he would like to discuss the issue later.

The Wednesday’s developments bring to an end the speculation over the survival of Kamal Nath government in the wake of developments in Karnataka.

Gopal Bhargava who has been elected the Leader of Opposition overlooking former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has been trying to steal the limelight from Chouhan with boisterous statements.

Chouhan is reported to have sought to bring this to the notice of the party leadership. He is also said to have conveyed to the leadership Gopal Bhargava’s inability to carry the other legislators along. More than 20 MLAs gathered at the residence of Chouhan in the evening. BJP state unit president Raakeh Singh has rushed to Bhopal to take stock of the situation.

Whether the two BJP legislators who voted for the Congress will formally join the Congress is a matter of speculation. They are scheduled to dine with Kamal Nath on Wednesday.

Narayan Tripathi who has been elected from Maihar multiple times is a known party-hopper and has been in the Samajwadi Party, Congress and BJP earlier. Obviously he remains the winning face for Maihar regardless of which party he contests from.

Sharad Kol, who was with Youth Congress, had joined the BJP 10 days before the Assembly elections after he was denied a Congress ticket. He called his decision “home coming”.

“The two BJP leaders responded to their inner voice,” said Kamal Nath.

A triumphant Congress later expressed hope there will more arrivals from the BJP. “Some more BJP MLAs are in touch with Kamal Nath. Let us wait and watch,” said a party leader.

The Congress is eyeing three more legislators including the wealthy Sanjay Pathak of Vijayraghogarh in Katni district, who has been in and out of the party.

As far as Wednesday’s “catch” is concerned, Congress had delegated Bhopal MLA Arif Masood to manage Tripathi and Kol. He took them away shortly after the House was adjourned sine die. The BJP will weigh the consequences before expelling the duo.

Earlier, Kamal Nath had challenged the Opposition to try and buy out the ruling party legislators in this state. Responding to Opposition leader Gopal Bhargava’s boast, “We can bring down the government the moment the No 1 and 2 leaders give a go ahead, Kamal Nath had said, “Your No 1 and 2 have the wisdom not to give you the go ahead.”

Kamal Nath said, “Everyone knows about the skills of your No 1 and No 2. Our government will complete five years. If you are so sure why don’t you bring a no confidence motion right away?”

While discussing a calling attention motion on Medicity brought by Congress MLAs Rajyvardhan Singh Dattigaon, Kunal Chaudhary and Vinay Saxena, Kamal Nath said the BJP has been making such claims right from the day his government took office. Let me make it clear the Opposition’s claims are bogus and our MLAs are not for sale.

He said further amid thumping of desks by the ruling coalition members, ruling party, that this government is here for five years and Madhya Pradesh will create history by setting up new benchmarks of development bringing prosperity to every class.

Instead of this everyday clamour of keeping the minority government at its mercy the opposition should hold a no-trust vote right away. “We are prepared for it, here and now.” Is the Opposition ready?

Making first person remarks for a long time, Kamal Nath said that I have maintained certain propriety in my political life and tried to set an example. He said no one has raised questions or made any allegations through his 45 years’ political life.

He said I have been an MP for 40 years and was a Minister of several departments at the Centre. I have always tried to keep my political life clean. As a minister, I have always protected the interests of people of Madhya Pradesh.

The Chief Minister said that as Union Minister of Commerce, he took care of the interests of farmers in the WTO and did not compromise.

As Minister of Urban Development he has given Madhya Pradesh the highest amount of money for the development of the cities. It is a record. When I was the environment minister, he made available the funds for the development of the Bhopal Lake and benefitted the state by changing the transport rules while being transport minister. It was appreciated even by the then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

Kamal Nath said that when I was questioned about the decision to sell the airplane of the state government, I felt great pain and sorrow. He said that the decision to sell an airplane helicopter was not mine. It was the government of Shivraj Singh. His cabinet had decided it. We just implemented that decision.

Kamal Nath said that Chauhan has this habit of making allegations but I hav not been used to hear such accusations. I haven’t done anything to be questioned by people. It hurts if someone blames me needlessly.

“I do not resort to television and media politics. I do not have the passion to show face and print photos. If any section of the state is in crisis, then I try to resolve the issue immediately and bring relief. This I believe is true sensitivity to people”.