Madhya Pradesh Govt Crisis: Senior Congress Leader Jyotiraditya Scindia To Join BJP, Say Sources

Amid Madhya Pradesh political crisis, a sulking Scindia, along with at least 17 legislators, went incommunicado on Monday, sparking intense speculation about the fate of the Kamal Nath government.

Image: PTI

New Delhi: In a major jolt to Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, senior party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia will join the Bharatiya Janata Party, and will be sent to the Rajya Sabha with BJP quota, sources said. A sulking Scindia, along with at least 17 legislators, went incommunicado on Monday amid the political crisis, sparking intense speculation about the fate of the Kamal Nath government. The virtual revolt by Scindia and his faction, prompted Chief Minister Kamal Nath to call a late-night cabinet meeting where around 20 ministers resigned reposing faith in his leadership. Nath alleged that the BJP was adopting immoral ways to "destabilise my government" and vowed not to let it happen. After the dramatic developments, MP Forest Minister Umang Singhar was quoted as saying, "We have resigned. Now it is up to the chief minister to take a call,” by PTI. Out of the 28 ministers, 20 were present at the cabinet meeting, besides the chief minister. The rebel MLAs of Congress will be holding a press conference on Tuesday at 12 noon. Also Watch | Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia to join BJP: Sources Congress, BJP legislative party meeting today: Congress Legislature Party will meet at 5 pm on Tuesday in Bhopal. Kamal Nath government will be formed afresh. Apart from this, there will also be a meeting of BJP Legislature Party at 6 pm in Bhopal. BJP leaders meet in Amit Shah's house In the midst of the changing political equation in Madhya Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party has also started working on its strategy. There was a late-night meeting at the Delhi residence of Home Minister Amit Shah. Bharatiya Janata Party President JP Nadda and Shivraj Singh Chauhan were also present at Amit Shah's house. Meanwhile, Governor Lalji Tandon has also canceled his holiday. BJP has also called a meeting of the legislature party on Tuesday and Shivraj Singh Chauhan can be elected as the leader of the Legislative Party. It is believed that BJP can bring a no confidence motion against the Kamal Nath government at the beginning of the assembly session. The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly has 230 seats, of which two are currently vacant. Thus, at present there are 228 MLAs in the state, out of which 114 are Congress, 107 BJP, four Independents, two Bahujan Samaj Party and one Samajwadi Party MLA. The Congress government of Madhya Pradesh led by Kamal Nath has the support of these four independent MLAs as well as BSP and SP.