MP: Congress MLA resigns, increases woes of CM Kamal Nath
What's the story
Congress took a sigh of relief in Madhya Pradesh, thinking the worst was over as six MLAs, whom it claimed were "poached" by the BJP, returned home.
But in what sparked fresh tensions, a legislator of the grand old party sent his resignation to state assembly Speaker NP Prajapati on Thursday.
Three other MLAs — two from Congress and one independent, are still "missing".
Background
BJP lost Madhya Pradesh to Congress, latter has wafer-thin majority
The MLA who resigned is Hardeep Singh Dang; he was among the 10 MLAs whom Congress claimed BJP spirited away.
In the 2018 Assembly elections, BJP lost Madhya Pradesh. Congress was able to form the government only with SP, BSP, and independents' support.
Congress has 120 MLAs in the 230-member House, just four more than the majority mark of 116. BJP has 107 MLAs.
Resignation letter
Ministers are part of corrupt government: Dang
Dang, an MLA from Suwasara, said in his resignation letter that he was hurt by how Chief Minister Kamal Nath and other ministers ignored him.
"None of the ministers are ready to work as they are part of a corrupt government," his letter, that was circulated on WhatsApp, read.
Dang, who won for the second time, is upset after not being made a minister.
Message
Had expressed pain to you verbally: Dang told Nath
Dang complained of not getting proper accommodation in Bhopal.
Addressing Nath, he wrote, "I had verbally expressed my pain to you and wrote a letter on February 16, 2019. People of Suwasra sent me to the Assembly for the second time with great hope and aspiration. But ever since your government has been formed, neither you nor your ministers pay attention to the development."
Quote
Dang said he feels insulted
"Ministers are not prepared to do work I tell them, and only middlemen are getting their work done. Meanwhile, I make rounds of Bhopal for the smallest of works of my party workers and still they are not done. I obviously feel insulted," Dang wrote.
Expectations
Only Sikh member in Assembly, Dang was expecting a berth
To note, Dang is the only member of the Sikh community in the MP Assembly. He was also the sole one from Congress to win from Mandsaur.
His purported resignation letter came hours after a local newspaper carried a full-page advertisement that read, "Main Congressi tha aur aajeevan Congressi rahunga."
It's suggested that Dang is in Bengaluru, along with other missing MLAs.
MLAs
"Incommunicado" independent said he is with Nath from day one
The other MLAs, whose return is awaited, are Bisahulal Singh, Raghuraj Kansana (belonging to Congress), and independent MLA Surendra Singh Shera.
Reportedly, Shera said he was in Karnataka for his daughter's treatment.
"I am with the Kamal Nath government right from day one. However, ministers don't listen to me and Kamal Nath didn't make me a minister despite his assurances," he told HT.
Reaction
Have to speak to him in person: Nath
About Dang's resignation letter, speaker Prajapati said he would only consider it when the MLA submits it in person.
Separately, Nath said, "I cannot comment on the news of his resignation till I speak to him in person."
Evidently, the news of missing legislators has increased Congress' worries about impending Rajya Sabha elections.
Three seats in the Upper House are up for grabs.
Poaching
Some legislators denied poaching charges
Meanwhile, Rambai Singh, Sanjeev Singh Kushwah, and Rajesh Shukla, whom Congress said were "taken away" by BJP, expressed their displeasure.
"How can anyone take us against our wish?" Ramabai, whom BSP suspended over her stand on Citizenship Amendment Act, said.
And Sanjeev said, "Who can poach us? From whom did they rescue us? They must make it clear or apologize for their statements."
Details
Congress is facing consequences of infighting, suggested BJP leaders
Thereafter, slamming Congress, BJP spokesperson Rahul Kothari said, "Nothing could be more ridiculous than the fact that whereas the Congress and other MLAs continue to deny the BJP's role in any horse-trading, the Congress leaders continue to blame the BJP."
Separately, state BJP leader Narottam Mishra said, "They should think why people are so angry that they don't want to stay with them."