Bhopal: Buoyed by exit poll projections that the BJP is in for a landslide victory in Madhya Pradesh, the party has started flexing political muscle. A day after TV channels beamed predictions about an encore of 2014 general election, the BJP on Monday shot a letter to governor demanding a session of the assembly.
The demand for floor test comes in less than 24 hours after exit poll predictions assumes significance in more than one way and what it can mean was not lost on political observers. While leader of opposition Gopal Bhargava and former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan were categorical in their assertion that they do not believe in destabilising the Kamal Nath-led government, practitioners of realpolitik say it is all about the timing in politics. The development triggered intense buzz in political circles. In a 230-seat House, the ruling party has only 5 more seats than the BJP. In 2018 assembly election, the Congress could manage to win 114 against 109 won by its rival BJP. Of the remaining seven seats, two were won by the BSP, one by the SP and four by independents.
As the numbers did not favour the Congress to form the government on its own, the situation forced it to turn to the BSP, SP and the Independents. The SP and BSP have given unconditional support to the Congress. Well aware of the wafer thin majority, BJP knows well the Congress chance of staying in power hangs by a tenuous thread and what any snap in it will lead to. Observers point out the charged-up BJP leadership after the exit poll results began to turn up the heat factoring in precarious condition that the ruling party is in.
Hours after the BJP in Madhya Pradesh asked the Congress government to prove its majority and wrote to state governor for convening a special session of the state Assembly, Chief Minister Kamal Nath Monday said he was all prepared to go for floor test.
Nath also claimed that he had proven majority of his coalition government "four times" in the last five months, and is ready to do so again.
As it is, the Congress is trying to give an impression it is not bothered about the development. Bhupendra Gupta, former OSD to the chief minister, said, “The Congress is ready for floor test. We are in comfortable majority. It won’t stop the party from carrying out inquiry into scandals that took place during the BJP-ruled government.”
Out of power for 15 years, the Congress suffers from many disadvantages — from lack of cohesiveness to problem of many factions in the party. In contrast, its rival comes across as the strong party with deep roots and people connect.
Ever since the Congress-led government took reins of power, BJP leaders on more than one occasion called it a party of 2.5 mukhya mantries (2.5 chief ministers) in an obvious reference to Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia.
As predicted by the exit polls, if the BJP comes to power at the Centre, the saffron party's efforts to snatch power in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka will get a fresh impetus and the BJP will leave no stones unturned to achieve its goal. So, is a Goa repeat awaiting MP?