Bhopal, March 22 Amid high profile political drama, Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon has called on State Assembly Principal Secretary A.P. Singh following controversy over the acceptance of BJP MLA Sharad Kol's resignation from the House.
The Governor maintained a discreet distance from the Speaker Narmada Prasad Prajapati who had delayed termination of the 22 rebel Congress legislators, and defied the Governor to avert an early floor-test for Kamal Nath government.
A delegation of the BJP leaders had met the Governor seeking direction against termination of Kol's resignation. Kol who had switched his loyalty for Kamal Nath, met the Speaker to quit as BJP legislator.
Singh's visit to the Raj Bhawan came after the state BJP leaders in the evening met the Governor and sought his direction to the Assembly speaker and Assembly secretariat not to accept their MLA Sharad Kol's resignation which he had allegedly given under pressure.
BJP leaders, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Gopal Bhargava met the Governor on Saturday and told him about how Kol had resigned (on March 6) under pressure, but withdrew it within stipulated time.
On March 16, our tribal MLA Sharadji in person went to the Assembly and withdrew his resignation, Chouhan had told the reporters.
"He had also come to the Governor house and said that he has resigned under pressure and his resignation should not be accepted (by the speaker). Unfortunately, the speaker who should be impartial, indulging in partisan action," Chouhan said.
"The speaker wants the Assembly secretariat principal secretary to accept Kol resignation now," Gopal Bhargava said.
"As the assembly is in suspended animation," the Speaker does not have such a power, Bhagava said adding he too right is not functioning as the leader of opposition. The BJP which was impatient about the speaker delaying action of Congress members' resignations, wants the governor to pressure the Assembly against accepting Kol's resignation to save its numbers
The BJP's strength in the Assembly is 107 whereas of the Congress member is 92. The BJP does not want to lose a member. The State Assembly has been reduced to 206 members after 22 Congress rebel MLAs resignations were accepted. Kol and another BJP MLA Narayan Tripathi had voted for Congress sponsored Bill in the Assembly last year.
( With inputs from IANS )