BJP seeks floor test in Madhya Pradesh

Even before the results of the Lok Sabha elections are out, the BJP has begun an exercise to topple the five-month old Kamal Nath government.

Citing the exit polls that have shown the BJP winning 26-28 out of 29 parliamentary seats in Madhya Pradesh, leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava has demanded calling an Assembly session for floor test soon. Nath said he was all prepared to go for floor test.

The Congress has 114 seats against the BJP’s 107 in the 230-strong state Assembly. With support of two BSP and four independent MLAs, the Congress has cobbled together a simple majority.

Bhargava told newsmen on Monday that all exit polls and surveys have forecast 27-28 seats to BJP which means the Congress government has lost the people’s mandate to rule the state.

BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya has also said that the fall of the Kamal Nath government is imminent.

Meanwhile, Nath hit back at the BJP leaders for seeking his government dismissal with the advice to wait till the Lok Sabha poll results are out.

“Wait till May 23. We have seen so many exit polls going horribly wrong in the past. Don’t be impatient,” the chief minister said.

Nath also claimed that he had proven majority of his coalition government “four times” in the last five months, and is ready to do so again.

“I have already told them... The BJP is trying it for long. I have proved majority in the House four times in the last five months and I am ready for a floor test again,” Nath told PTI late evening.

Soon after the Congress managed to secure a majority to form government in November last year, BJP leaders had started giving dark hints that the government will fall soon after Modi government is re-elected.

The BJP leaders held out an open threat to the bureaucracy to “behave”.