MP crisis: SC asks Speaker to decide on resignations of rebel MLAs, adjourns hearing

Madhya Pradesh Government Crisis Live News Updates: The Supreme Court Wednesday asked the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati to decide on resignations of 16 rebel Congress MLAs and adjourned the hearing for Thursday at 10 am.

During the hearing in the Supreme Court today, the Congress said the rebel MLAs should face re-election and then a floor test can be held. Accusing BJP of "hijacking democracy" through money and muscle power, Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave asked the matter to be referred to a larger bench. The Congress also said that Governor Lalji Tandon's direction to hold a floor test was "unconstitutional." The BJP, meanwhile, said the Kamal Nath-led government has no "moral, legal, constitutional right" to stay in power.

A two-judge bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Hemant Gupta is 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 after the BJP challenged the Speaker's decision to adjourn the House till March 26 citing the coronavirus scare. The Congress, meanwhile, has approached the court seeking access to its rebel MLAs who are camped in Bengaluru. Governor Tandon has asked Chief Minister Kamal Nath to hold a trust vote.

(Inputs and image from theindianexpress.com and image from livelaw.in)