Cannot allow BJP to hijack democracy, Congress tells SC

Madhya Pradesh Government Crisis Live News Updates: The Supreme Court has begun hearing the BJP's plea for immediate floor test in Madhya Pradesh. The apex court on Tuesday had issued notice to the Madhya Pradesh government, Speaker and others over the issue. The Congress, meanwhile, has approached the court seeking access to its rebel MLAs who are camped in Bengaluru.

Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on Madhya Pradesh floor test, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, who arrived in Bengaluru on Wednesday morning to meet the rebel MLAs, was taken into preventive custody. Alleging "threat" to the rebels, Singh announced a hunger strike.

In a press conference on Tuesday, the rebel MLAs, who pushed the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government to the brink of collapse with their resignations, refuted the Congress' charge of being held "hostage." Early this morning, Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon also sent a letter to Assembly Speaker N P Prajapati saying that he can feel the latter's "dilemma" and praised him for taking an "impartial and courageous" decision in accepting the resignations of six ministers. He also said that the letters by the rebels mention no threat to them.

(Inputs and imasge from theindianexpress.com)