After Losing MP in LS, Congress Prepares for Next Battle to Save Government

Bhopal: After losing power in Madhya Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya had remarked that the day the BJP central leadership “sneezes”, the party would be back in power in Madhya Pradesh.

Now, with the 2019 Lok Sabha election results out, it is clear that BJP is returning to power with more strength. In MP, the BJP won 28 out of 29 seats, which has left the ruling Congress government on an edge. The grand old party which has already lost its two previous seats – Ratlam and Guna – to the Modi wave, is now in fear of this ‘sneeze’ from the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.

Sensing a landslide victory after the initial trends on the result day, state BJP president Rakesh Singh demanded the resignation of CM Kamal Nath on “moral grounds”. “Congress has lost people’s support,” he said.

Three days earlier, the leader of opposition Gopal Bhargava had dashed off a letter to the Governor Anandiben Patel urging for a special Assembly session to discuss the key prevailing issues of the state, including farm loan waiver. He had also stated that the Congress is running a minority government, however, the governor rebuffed his demand.

Also read: Lok Sabha Election Results Day Highlights

In reply to Bhargava, CM Nath had claimed, “Congress is running a stable government and we have proved our majority in Assembly not once but four times. We are ready for floor test this time too.” Besides that, two independent MLAs, who have been supporting the Congress government also assured their support to the party in front of the media, a day before the results on May 22.

In the 2018 Assembly elections, the Congress got 114 seats, while the BJP got 109 seats in the 230-seat Assembly. With the support of two Bahujan Samaj Party MLAs, two independent MLAs and one Samajwadi Party MLA, the Congress staked its claim to form the government in the state.

However, the BJP has given enough indications that the post-poll days aren’t going to be easy for the Congress-led coalition. It hasn’t spoken of a floor test yet, but dared the Congress government to prove its majority in passing the state budget.

“What kind of government is this?” Vijayvargiya had asked some time ago. “This government is running at our mercy, because the day boss gives the signal…” He had left the rest unsaid.

Vijayvargiya — believed to be a frontrunner for CM’s post, if the Congress fails to prove majority — had on Tuesday said he doubts if the Nath government “would survive 22 days after the Lok Sabha results are out”.

On Thursday, side-stepping the queries on his plans for MP, he said, “There are people, Rakesh Singh and others to take care of the party in state. I have been called to Delhi by the party leadership and I will be there till the party wishes.”

Meanwhile, Congress minister Jitu Patwari dismissed the threat. “There is no danger to the state government. The BJP will do what it wants to do. But this Congress government will be there for five years. It will work for the people. There is no chance that MLAs aligned with Congress will move towards BJP,” he said.

Also watch: No Employment, No Development: People’s Issues in MP

Interestingly, on Tuesday, just two days before the LS poll results were out, CM Kamal Nath had also accused the BJP of “offering money and posts to at least 10 Congress MLAs”.