Bhopal: On a day the H D Kumaraswamy government fell in Karnataka, a fusillade of statements from senior BJP leaders and the ruling Congress leaders in Madhya Pradesh countering it triggered a political buzz in the state about the stability of the Kamal Nath-led government.
The BJP leaders' statements had fuelled speculations that the saffron brigade has now set its eyes on the Madhya Pradesh government after the success of 'Operation Kamala' in Karnataka.
Karnataka chief minister Kumaraswamy had lost a confidence vote on Tuesday and BJP's Yeddyurappa is all set to take oath as CM soon.
A day after the Karnataka drama, Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Gopal Bhargava caused sensation in the state Assembly saying, "Hamare oopar wale No. 1 ya No. 2 ka aadesh hua to 24 ghante bhi aapki sarkar nahi chalegi." (If there is a signal from our No. 1 (Modi) or No. 2 (Amit Shah), your government won't survive 24 hours).
To this, chief minister Kamal Nath said that the government would last its full term and his government is ready for a floor test. "Your top number one and number two are sensible, that is why they are not giving such orders. You are free to bring in a no-confidence motion," Kamal Nath said.
To make his point clear, within hours after Bhargava's claim, two BJP MLAs voted in support of the Congress-led government, making the saffron brigade angry. The two MLAs – Narayan Tripathi from Maihar in Satna district and Sharad Kol of Beohari in Shahdol district – voted in favour of Kamal Nath government during a division of vote on criminal law amendment bill in the assembly. The duo were with the Congress earlier.
With this development, as of now, it seems, no threat looms over the existence of well-ensconced Kamal Nath government. But a volley of remarks from former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Gopal Bhargava eddied the otherwise stagnant political waters in this landlocked state.
A couple of hours after the political drama in Karnataka brought down curtain on the HDK government in the southern state, Shivraj's read-between-the-lines statement that "We did nothing in Karnataka. Congressmen brought down Congress-ruled governments" led political observers to ask if he is hinting at something. He said, "There are many internal contradictions in the state". Without naming the ruling party in Madhya Pradesh, the former chief minister said the government in the state is backed by SP and BSP. "If something happens, we cannot do anything," he added.
Bhargava sort of stoked war of words saying "Lame (langdi) governments meet the same fate. The situation is more or less similar in Madhya Pradesh also. In Madhya Pradesh, the government will soon have its pindaan.(Madhya Pradesh mein jald hi sarkar apna pindaan karvayegi)"
Comparing Karnataka, he said in Madhya Pradesh also "transfer industry is booming. Farmers were cheated and there is rampant corruption".
A couple of months ago, Bhargava had hit headlines demanding a floor test by the Kamla Nath government.
Jitu Patwari, a young minister in the Kamal Nath government, gave it back to the BJP. In his retort to the BJP leaders, he said, "This is Kamal Nath's government. The BJP will have to take seven births to do horse-trading in the state."
A political observer sought to dismiss the former chief minister's statement saying Shivraj is fighting for his survival. "He is trying to keep himself relevant in changed political conditions."
In his reaction to this war of nerves, Congress spokesperson K K Mishra said, "Chief minister Kamal Nath in the past had dared the BJP to topple the government and that it should desist from giving empty threats. The Congress-ruled government will stay rock solid. There are enough answers in CM's statement for those daydreaming fall of the government."
With 114 MLAs, the Congress has majority in the 230-member House as four independents, two BSP MLAs and one SP member support it.
In terms of numbers, Congress is ahead of the BJP by just five more seats.
The BJP had 109 MLAs but the number reduced to 108 after Jhabua MLA G S Damor resigned from the post last month after being elected from Ratlam Lok Sabha seat.
Ever since, the Congress rode to power after staying away from it for 15 years, BJP biggies from the state had more than once expressed doubts over the present government lasting its full term. However, this round has gone to Kamal Nath with his googly catching the BJP unawares on Wednesday. It seems BJP will have to first set its house in order before plotting the fall of Congress government in MP.
