Before the celebrations in BJP camp over the success of 'Operation Kamala' in Karnataka could conclude, the saffron party received a jolt in Madhya Pradesh with two of its MLAs voting in the state assembly on Wednesday supporting the Congress-led government.
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.
This is a major victory for Congress as it came for them as a sweet revenge on BJP after the Congress-JD(S)'s HD Kumaraswamy-led government in Karnataka lost the trust vote on Tuesday.
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 (109) by just five more seats. BJP's number was reduced to 108 after the general elections as its Jhabua MLA G S Damor was elected to the Lok Sabha.
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 development has come as a rude shock for the BJP as it seems the saffron brigade has to first set its house in order.
During the division of vote on the bill, 122 votes were cast in favour of the government, making it clear that two BJP MLAs had cross voted as the speaker (a Congress MLA) did not vote.
The move of the BJP MLAs came soon after the leader of opposition Gopal Bhargava claimed in the house that his party could pull the plug on the Congress government any time.
Within hours, Tripathi and Kol voted for the Kamal Nath government and later addressing the media, the MLAs said that it was 'ghar wapsi' for them. They said they were feeling neglected in the BJP and even the promises made for their constituencies by former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan were not fulfilled.
"I am supporting the government openly and I am not afraid of having to resign or facing by-elections," Tripathi said.
There were rumours that Tripathi and another former minister of BJP were about to resign and join the Congress before the assembly session started, but the BJP managed to stem the rot.