A BJP leader on Wednesday, 24 July claimed in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly that if the party's top leadership ordered, the Kamal Nath government in the state can be toppled within 24 hours.
The statement by Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava, coming a day after the collapse of the Congress-JD(S) regime in Karnataka, prompted chief minister Nath to state that he was ready to face a floor test anytime.
The exchange of barbs took place during the debate on a calling attention motion when the ruling Congress alleged that the previous BJP government led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan hired private helicopters and planes even when the state-owned aircraft lay unused.
Chouhan said hiring private aircraft became necessary as he rushed to the spot whenever there was a natural calamity or any other kind of emergency, unlike his successor.
This led to loud protests by Congress legislators, leading to an adjournment for five minutes.
When the House reassembled, Bhargava took exception to questioning of expenditure on aircraft used by the previous chief minister.
He went on to say that “it would not take more than 24 hours to topple the Kamal Nath government if our number one and two leaders (apparently referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister and BJP president Amit Shah) ordered”.
Nath retorted that his government would complete five years, and added, “Your number one and two are wise.” The BJP leaders claimed every day that his was a minority government, and he was ready to face a no-confidence motion "today itself", the chief minister said.
“I want to make it clear that none of our MLAs are on sale,” he said.
Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Rambai Singh -- a government ally -- said the Kamal Nath government was stable.
Nath said he had been an elected Member of Parliament for 40 years and held several portfolios as a union minister. During his 45-year-long political career he never faced any allegations, he added.
Chouhan said the chief minister should not complain, as such questions would be raised as his government was a minority government.
The Congress-led government in Madhya Pradesh enjoys a slender majority. Besides 114 MLAs of the Congress, it is supported by four independents, two BSP MLAs and one Samajwadi Party legislator in the 230-member House. The opposition BJP has 109 MLAs.
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