In MLA count, how Congress delivered a 'two-in-one blow' to BJP in MP

Now that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has returned to power in Karnataka because of defections from the Congress and its allies — with the stage for it being set for over two weeks — the feeling was that things might unfold in the same way in Madhya Pradesh, where the Bahujan Samaj Party is propping up the government, headed by Congressman Kamal Nath. 

But the MP government seems comfortable. Kamal Nath’s strategy has been brilliant and he has secured the “homecoming” of two BJP MLAs. 

Narayan Tripathi and Sharad Kol, both former Congressmen, supported the government during voting on the Criminal Law (Madhya Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2019. Later they addressed a press conference and said they supported the government because they wanted to develop their constituencies. Tripathi is a third-time MLA from Maihar (Satna) and Kol won his first election from Beohari (Shahdol).

It is intriguing that the BJP did not seek a division of votes on the Bill. It was Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Sanjiv Singh who demanded a division and BJP MLAs surprised everybody with their move. Kamal Nath said: “The BJP says we are a minority government and could fall anyday. But, during voting in the Assembly on the Criminal Law Amendment Bill, two BJP MLAs voted in favour of our government.” 

Asked if Tripathi and Kol had joined the Congress, minister P C Sharma said: “They are with the Congress. It doesn't matter whether they become party members or not.”

According to Congress sources, it all started a month ago when Kamal Nath sensed that some BJP lawmakers were unhappy with the treatment the party was giving them. Tripathi was reportedly unhappy with the BJP MP from Satna, Ganesh Singh.

Sharad Kol, earlier a Youth Congress leader, had sought the ticket from the Beohari constituency in the Assembly elections last year but was denied one. He joined the BJP ahead of the elections. Kol's father, Juglal Kol, is a senior Congress leader of Shahdol district. Kamal Nath persuaded the father to bring his son back to the fold, sources said.

Although the BJP denies any trouble within, the buzz is that several MLAs are willing to move to other outfits. This has angered the party. A senior BJP leader said: “This act of the Congress is stirring a hornet’s nest. It was the status quo in the state but Congress has breached the truce and for a temporary gain at that. It will have to pay a heavy price for this adventure.” 

According to party sources, the BJP might not have any immediate plan to destabilise the government, but after a few weeks, it may get back at the Congress.

BJP Spokesperson Rajneesh Agarwal said the party had not issued the whip on the voting. It had also supported the Bill. 

Both MLAs are in the BJP legislative party, he said. 

Agarwal is silent on the subsequent course of action. MP BJP President Rakesh Singh said, “Everything is under control.”

Sources say the BJP is trying to win back its MLAs. However, the party is wary of MLAs who belonged to other outfits.

Political pundits have many views on how things will move. Analyst Girija Shankar said: “It is the failure of the state unit which is somnolent. In the Assembly elections, the BJP won 109 seats because Shivraj Singh Chouhan remains popular. In the general elections the party won because of the Modi magic.”

Girija Shankar said after this shocking failure of the state leadership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah would seize things in their own hands and something more dramatic would take place. 

Saji Thomas, another commentator, thinks otherwise. He said: “The long indecisiveness of the BJP injured it in Madhya Pradesh. Kamal Nath used this window to lure BJP MLAs. Though Chouhan is the most popular face of the party in the state, the brass of the party was reluctant to give him another chance. All this helped Kamal Nath and he consolidated his position gradually. If by-election takes place in Maihar and Beohari, the Congress has a reasonable chance to achieve a majority.”

In the Assembly elections last year, the Congress won 114 seats, the BJP 109, the BSP two, and the Samajwadi Party one. Four went to independent candidates.