MP political crisis LIVE: Nath says will prove majority as Scindia quits

After remaining 'incommunicado' for hours, Jyotiraditya Scindia finally resigned from the Congress party. Read live updates on Madhya Pradesh political crisis

2:58 AM

Scindia's exit reignites 'old versus young' debate

The exit of Jyotiraditya Scindia signals the deepening leadership crisis in the Congress which continues to grapple with factionalism and growing power struggles between old and young leaders.

 

The fact that Scindia failing to get an audience with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, as pointed out by sources, reinforces the grudge many hold in the party about the high command becoming progressively distant. Scindia's departure is seen as a big blow to the Congress, which lost a prominent young face, but it is also feared that his revolt may trigger a wave of dissensions in the party where youngsters have long felt sidelined by veterans.

2:55 AM

Crisis in MP: Nath's confidant Verma to fly to Bengaluru

Madhya Pradesh minister Sajjan Singh Verma, a confidant of Chief Minister Kamal Nath, will fly to Bengaluru on Tuesday night and try to woo back the Congress MLAs who are staying there, sources said. These legislators are among 22 Congress MLAs who have resigned from the Assembly.

2:50 AM

`Resort politics' starts in MP: Cong, BJP to move MLAs to unknown locations

Both the ruling Congress and opposition BJP in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday decided to herd their respective MLAs to undisclosed locations to prevent attempts to `poach' them. A rattled Congress, which witnessed 22 of its MLAs resigning, decided to take remaining 92 legislators to an undisclosed location. "We are going to take our 92 MLAs who are supporting the state government to possibly some hotel," a senior Congress leader said.

2:39 AM

Cong leaders slam Scindia, say he chose 'personal ambition' over ideology

Several Congress leaders slammed Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday for quitting the party, accusing him of betraying the trust of the people and placing "personal ambition" over ideology.

 

Hitting out at Scindia, many Congress leaders referred to the 1857 revolt against the East India Company and the role of the Scindia royals back then as well as Vijaya Raje Scindia's switch from the Congress in 1967.

11:39 PM

'Resort politics' returns as Scindia quits; Cong scrambles to save MP govt

As many as 22 Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh resigned on Tuesday, putting survival of the Kamal Nath-led government in the state in doubt. The development came on the day senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, to whose faction the 22 MLAs including six ministers belonged, announcing that he had quit the party. Both Congress and opposition BJP held meetings of their legislature wings on Tuesday evening, and decided to move their respective MLAs to unknown locations. Read More Here

11:07 PM

Congress leaders head to Bengaluru

Congress leaders Sajjan Singh Verma and Dr Govind Singh have left for Bengaluru. They will meet some of the 19 rebel MLAs and try and convince them to return to the party.

Madhya Pradesh Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Govind Singh addresses Congress legislature party meeting at CM's residence in Bhopal. PTI

10:13 PM

Congress scrambles leaders for MP

Congress leaders Mukul Wasnik, Harish Rawat and Deepak Babaria left for Bhopal. They will reach Bhopal late night today.

9:55 PM

Kamal Nath on future of Cong govt

There is nothing to worry about, we will prove our majority. Our government will complete its term, says CM Kamal Nath.

9:45 PM

We are going either to Bengaluru or Delhi: BJP MLAs

9:42 PM

Watch | BJP MLAs singing after CLP meeting

9:06 PM

Resolution passed in the Congress legislative party meet in Bhopal

Congress legislative party condemns the unfortunate manner in which attempt has been made to insult the people's mandate by satisfying the personal ambitions of Jyotiraditya Scindia. 

8:19 PM

The government has no threat, we will prove the majority: Congress MLA

Meeting (legislative part meet) was good. All Congress MLAs, including independents, were present. We have the number,we'll fight this together. MLAs who were rounded up were told that Scindia ji has to demand a Rajya Sabha seat so they need to come together. But when the talks of him (Jyotiraditya Scindia) going to BJP started, these MLAs became angry. They are all in contact with the Chief Minister. The government has no threat, we will prove the majority in the Assembly.

 

7:54 PM

MP BJP legislative party meeting is underway in Bhopal

7:52 PM

Keeping tabs on MP developments, will take decision after reaching Raj Bhavan: Guv

On a day when Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress and 22 MLAs close to him resigned from the Madhya Pradesh assembly, Governor Lalji Tandon said he is keeping tabs on political developments and will take a decision only after reaching the Raj Bhavan in Bhopal. Tandon is currently in Lucknow to celebrate Holi with his family and made the remarks in a conversation with an English news channel over the phone.

 

When asked whether the Governor House (Raj Bhavan) is keeping tabs on the prevailing situation in Madhya Pradesh, he said, "Yes, yes definitely. Whatever decision I have to take, I will do so once I reach the Raj Bhavan." When asked as to when will he return Bhopal, Tandon said he was on leave till March 12 to celebrate Holi with his family.

7:47 PM

MP Cong meet underway, 22 party MLAs, 3 of allies skip

Amid the crisis caused by resignations of 22 legislators, meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) in Madhya Pradesh began here on Tuesday evening, with 92 of 114 party MLAs attending it. The 22 MLAs, who have resigned from the Assembly and most of whom are supporters of Jyotiraditya Scindia who quit the Congress earlier on Tuesday, were absent, sources said. Two BSP MLAs and the lone SP MLA supporting the Congress government too skipped the meeting, spelling more trouble for the Kamal Nath-led Congress government which is on the brink of collapse, sources added.

7:46 PM

In Pics | BJP meeting at BJP HQ

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for Central Election Committee meeting at BJP HQ in New Delhi. PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Central Election Committee meeting at BJP HQ in New Delhi. PTI

6:51 PM

BJP leaders submit resignations of 19 Cong MLAs to Speaker

A delegation of BJP leaders on Tuesday met Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker N P Prajapati here and handed resignations of 19 Congress MLAs who are holed up in a resort in Bengaluru. After receiving the letters, Prajapati told reporters that he will take decision as per the rules. Senior BJP leader Bhupendra Singh reached here on Tuesday afternoon by a special flight, carrying with him the resignations, said BJP MLA Vishwas Sarang. So far, 22 Congress legislators have submitted their resignations from the state assembly in the wake of senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia's exit from the party.

6:39 PM

Cong leaders slam Scindia, say he chose 'personal ambition' over ideology

Several Congress leaders slammed Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday for quitting the party, accusing him of betraying the trust of the people and placing "personal ambition" over ideology. Hitting out at Scindia, many Congress leaders referred to the 1857 revolt against the East India Company and the role of the Scindia royals back then as well as Vijaya Raje Scindia's switch from the Congress in 1967. Congress' prominent youth leader Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party on Tuesday and appeared set to join the BJP amid a rebellion in Madhya Pradesh by his supporters, pushing the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government to the brink of collapse. READ MORE HERE

Jyotiraditya Scindia (PTI)

6:13 PM

PM Modi at BJP HQ

6:08 PM

Scindia's exit a big blow; many devoted leaders feel alienated: Cong MLA Bishno

Senior Haryana Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi on Tuesday described Jyotiraditya Scindia's exit from the party a big blow and said there are many devoted leaders across the country who feel "alienated, wasted and discontented". Stressing that Scinda was a central pillar of the party, Bishnoi, who is younger son of the former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal, felt that the Congress leadership should have done more to convince him to stay. He also said the party needs to empower young leaders who have the capacity to work hard and resonate with the masses. "Scindia's departure is a big blow to the Congress. He was a central pillar in the party and the leadership should've done more to convince him to stay," the 51-year-old Adampur MLA said in a tweet.

5:52 PM

BJP, Cong begins battle in madhya Pradesh

Leader of Opposition in state assembly Gopal Bhargava, Narottam Mishra, and other BJP leaders reached the residence of state assembly Speaker NP Prajapati to submit the resignations of 19 Congress MLAs. The Speaker has said that he will take action according to the established procedure of the state Assembly. 

5:46 PM

Home Minister Amit Shah arrives at BJP Headquarters

4:52 PM

BSP, SP MLAs meet Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Amid the political turmoil caused by resignations of at least 22 MLAs of the ruling Congress in Madhya Pradesh, a legislator of the BSP and another of the Samajwadi Party met BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday. The Bahujan Samaj Party with its two MLAs and the SP with its sole MLA are supporting the Kamal Nath-led Congress government. BSP MLA from Bhind Sanjiv Singh Kushwaha and SP legislator from Mehgaon, Rajesh Shukla, met Chouhan at his residence here. Chouhan said after the brief meeting that it was a courtesy call on the occasion of Holi.

4:42 PM

Just In | MLA from Hatpiplya quits

Congress MLA from Hatpiplya in Madhya Pradesh, Manoj Choudhary, resigns, taking the number of those who have quit to 22. 

4:39 PM

MP:BJP workers play Holi at party office, say 'Diwali' coming soon

Even as the political crisis that has gripped the Kamal Nath-led government in Madhya Pradesh is still unfolding, workers of the opposition BJP on Tuesday broke into celebrations at the party office here. Scores of BJP workers, including women, danced and smeared each other with colours to mark the festival of Holi. A woman activist, however, said they are elated because of Holi and in view of the early onset of "Diwali", hinting at uncertainty prevailing over survival of the Kamal Nath government.

 

4:29 PM

List of Congress MLAs who quit today

List of Ministers who tendered resignation

 

Tulsi Silawat 

Govind Singh Rajput

Dr Prabhuram Choudhry 

Imarti Devi 

Pradyumna Singh Tomar

Mahendra Singh Sisodia

 

List of MLAs who tendered resignation

 

Hardeep Singh Dang 

Rajyavardhan Singh

Brajendra Singh Yadav 

Jaspal Jajji 

Suresh Dhakad 

Jaswant Jatav

Santram Sironia 

Munnalal Goyal 

Ranveer Singh Jatav 

OPS Bhadoria 

Kamlesh Jatav

Giriraj Dandotiya 

Raghuraj Kansana

Aidalsingh Kansana 

Biasahulal Singh

4:16 PM

Just In | Another Congress MLA resigns

Troubles rising for MP CM Kamal Nath as another Congress MLA resigns, the number rises to 21. 

4:06 PM

It is now time for me to move on: Scindia

"Having been a primary member of the Congress party for the last 18 years. It is now time for me to move on. I am tendering my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress and as you well know this is a path that has been drawing itself out over the last year," Scindia wrote in the letter. "While my aim and purpose remains the same as it has always been from the very beginning, to serve the people of my state and my country, I believe I am unable to do this anymore within this party," Scindia said in his resignation letter posted on Twitter.

4:02 PM

Amit Shah meets JP Nadda in Delhi

A meeting between BJP chief JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah has concluded. The meeting comes hours after Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress amid speculations of joining hands with the BJP. 

3:35 PM

MP: BJP workers play Holi at party office, say 'Diwali' coming

Even as the political crisis that has gripped the Kamal Nath-led government in Madhya Pradesh is still unfolding, workers of the opposition BJP on Tuesday broke into celebrations at the party office here.

 

Scores of BJP workers, including women, danced and smeared each other with colours to mark the festival of Holi.

 

A woman activist, however, said they are elated because of Holi and in view of the early onset of "Diwali", hinting at uncertainty prevailing over survival of the Kamal Nath government.