Uncertainty over Madhya Pradesh Assembly floor test

BHOPAL: After an eventful Sunday, uncertainty prevailed over Monday’s floor test on the opening day of the Budget session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly.

Speaker N.P. Prajapati kept everyone guessing on his next move. His role is in focus after Governor Lalji Tandon’s directive to Chief Minister Kamal Nath to prove his majority on the floor of the House on Monday. “You will know it tomorrow,” Prajapati said during a media briefing. Asked who decided about the floor test - the Governor or the Assembly Speaker - a grinning Prajapati said, “I will let you know tomorrow”.

“I have said earlier I would not be answering hypothetical questions. I have to take a call on the real

situation and not imaginary ones. I will read out my ruling tomorrow,” the Speaker said.

Everything points to a noisy start to the session. According to indications, the opposition BJP, upbeat with the Governor’s direction to Kamal Nath to seek a confidence vote after his address, would go for the jugular and seek the ouster of the government right from the word go. The Congress government that stares at a possible collapse might try buying time through the Speaker to win back some of its 16 rebels MLAs.

“The Governor has directed the chief minister to seek a confidence vote after his address. But, the Speaker decides the proceedings of the House,” state Law and Legal Affairs Minister P.C. Sharma argued, suggesting the probable course of developments. Sharma was still confident of his party proving the majority.

“A floor test might not take place on Monday. It is very unlikely on Monday. The Assembly Speaker’s decision prevails in the House. The issue (of floor test) will go to court,” said another Congress MLA.

On the other hand, BJP chief whip Narottam Mishra said, “Congress has lost the majority. The Governor is saying that it is a minority. I am not saying this, this has been mentioned in the letter sent to the Chief Minister by the Governor.” (IANS)

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