‘Be ready for floor test’: Madhya Pradesh CM to MLAs

The Congress has 114 legislators in the state assembly and has support of six other MLAs – one each of SP and BSP and four independents in the 230 member house. The opposition BJP has 108 MLAs.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath has asked all legislators supporting the Congress government in the state to be ready for a floor test in the assembly in the event the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party comes up with such a demand.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath met lawmakers of the Congress and allies in Bhopal today in the first day of the budget session of the state assembly.(HT Photo)

There is speculation that the BJP was planning to put the government on the mat in the monsoon session of the assembly beginning Monday. In May, it had demanded that the Kamal Nath government prove its majority on the floor of the House.

The Congress has 114 legislators in the state assembly and has support of six other legislators — one each from the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party and four independents in the 230-member House. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has 108 MLAs.

“It is mandatory for all the Congress MLAs and other MLAs supporting the government to remain present in the assembly during the monsoon session. The opposition can come up with any demand [referring to floor test] and we should be ready for the floor test to pass the budget,” the CM said at a meeting of MLAs.

“The MLAs should keep their beliefs in the more than 130-year- old Congress party intact. BJP leaders will try to lure our members but we shouldn’t fall prey. We don’t need to be afraid of BJP’s design and false claim,” Nath added.

Confirming the BJP strategy, Gopal Bhargava, leader of the opposition in the state assembly, said the Congress was not sure about their strength in the House. “This session is going to be very interesting. We will raise all the issues related to the failure of the government in the House and will also go for a floor test. There is a possibility, they (the government) will be voted out in the House,” he said.

Surendra Singh, independent legislator from Burhanpur, said there is no threat to the government but the Congress should fulfill its promise of ministerial berth. Some of the Congress MLAs also expressed their disappointment over not getting cabinet berth. However, other Congress legislators said that there was no threat to the government.