The house has been adjourned till March 26. (File)
The Madhya Pradesh assembly was adjourned today till March 26, reportedly due to the coronavirus outbreak. The adjournment came soon after Governor Lalji Tandon walked out of the state assembly amid Congress slogans of "respect the house" after he said in his opening address at session today to "follow the Constitution".
The resignation of 22 Congress MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia last week has brought the state government on the brink of collapse. The MLAs, who flew to Bengaluru, are expected to follow Mr Scindia into the BJP; the long-time Congress leader made the stunning switch last week, complaining that the party was "not what it was before".
"All must follow the rules under the Constitution so that dignity of Madhya Pradesh remains protected," said the Governor today, in what was seen to a message to the Kamal Nath-led Congress government. The Governor had earlier asked the Speaker to hold a test of strength in the House.
Here are the LIVE updates on Madhya Pradesh government crisis:
A plea filed by 10 BJP MLAs including Shivraj Singh Chauhan in the Supreme Court wants the floor test be done in 12 hours.
The plea is likely to be heard tomorrow.
BJP leaders are on their way to the governor's house.
BJP moves Supreme Court
BJP moves Supreme Court after Madhya Pradesh assembly adjourned.
Madhya Pradesh Assembly adjourned, no trust vote today
Madhya Pradesh Assembly adjourned till March 26, reports news agency ANI.
Kamal Nath writes to Governor Lalji Tandon
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and Congress MLAs flashed smiles and victory signs as they entered the assembly for the start of a session that may see his government collapsing in a floor test.
Kamal Nath has written to Governor Lalji Tandon, saying that it "does not lie within the domain of the Governor to interfere with the functions of the Speaker".
In his letter, Mr Nath said to the Governor: "The Governor cannot require the Speaker to discharge his functions in the manner he considers constitutionally appropriate."
Uphold the law: Madhya Pradesh governor
Uphold the law and the constitution, says Madhya Pradesh governor.
'All must follow the rules under the Constitution so that dignity of Madhya Pradesh remains protected," he adds.
Mr Tandon completes his address to House in one minute and leaves.
Chief Minister should resign on moral ground: Gopal Bhargava
Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Gopal Bhargava said that Chief Minister Kamal Nath should tender his resignation on moral grounds as his government lacks the majority.
"The state government is running away from facing the floor test but it cannot be saved from collapsing as a good number of MLAs are against it. Government has been defeated morally and the Chief Minister should resign on moral ground," Gopal Bhargava told news agency ANI.
MLAs arrive at the Madhya Pradesh State Assembly
PM Modi has discovered a model to kill democracy: Jitu Patwari
Madhya Pradesh Minister Jitu Patwari says: Chief Minister has said that some of our MLAs have been kidnapped. PM Narendra Modi has discovered a model to kill the democracy - abduct, lure, manage MLAs and keep them in police custody, record and make their videos viral and then demand for floor test.
Rebel Congress MLAs being terrorised: Madhya Pradesh minister
Madhya Pradesh Minister PC Sharma says: They (rebel Congress MLAs who are kept in Bengaluru) are being hypnotized and terrorised and are not allowed by (some people) to come to the state, their families are being harassed.
The Congress has asserted that it is the Speaker's prerogative to decide about the proceedings of the House -- a claim seen as reluctance to hold the trust vote. But a buoyed BJP maintained that the Speaker was bound by the Governor's direction.
Chief Minister Kamal Nath has claimed that he has the numbers to win the trust vote.
