Scindia switches over, nominated for RS

TNS & agencies
New Delhi/Bhopal, March 11

Long-time Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia crossed over to the BJP on Wednesday, leaving the Madhya Pradesh Government tottering precariously even as both parties scrambled to send their legislators away from the state capital and from the machinations of each other.

Read also: Scindia’s switch

Welcoming him, Nadda remembered his grandmother Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia (a founder member of the BJP and erstwhile Jana Sangh) and her contribution in building and establishing the saffron ideology. Calling him a “family member”, Nadda said he would get an opportunity to function and contribute to the party in a “free atmosphere”, a veiled attack on the Congress and its leadership.

Jyotiraditya accused the Congress of “living in denial”, saying the new leadership was not being given a chance.“The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh could not keep the promises made to the people...farmers are unhappy and so is the youth…,” he said, lamenting that his dream for the state had been “shattered” in the past 18 months.

Scindia’s exit from the Congress was followed by resignations of party MLAs, some of whom are believed to have expressed reservations over his joining the BJP. Party spokesperson Zafar Islam is reported to have played a key role in persuading Congress loyalist Scindia to switch to the BJP, a big message for the entire political spectrum, say sources.

“We will prove our majority,” senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said, adding that 13 of the 22 rebel MLAs in the state had given an assurance that they would not quit the Congress. “Scindia could have been a Congress nominee to the Rajya Sabha, but only Modi-Shah can give a Cabinet post to the over-ambitious leader,” Digvijay said.

Over 90 Congress MLAs from Bhopal were given a warm reception by Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Chief Whip Mahesh Joshi and other Cabinet colleagues as they landed at the Jaipur International Airport by a chartered plane.Two private luxury hotels at Achrol on the Jaipur-Delhi highway have been booked for their stay, Joshi said. They were brought to resorts in Volvo buses.

The number game

• Kamal Nath govt came to power with a slim majority in 230-member House whose effective strength now is 228
• It has the support of 4 Inds, two BSP MLAs and one of SP
• If resignations of 22 MLAs are accepted, the strength of the Assembly will fall to 206
• The Cong will be left with 92 seats while the BJP has 107; the magic number is 104

Will prove majority

We will prove our majority and save the Kamal Nath government. Thirteen of the 22 rebel MLAs have given us an assurance that they will not leave the Congress. — Digvijaya Singh, Congress leader

Cong in denial mode, no more a party it was

The future of the country is safe in PM Modi’s hands. The Congress is no longer the party it was. The party is denying reality... New leadership is not being given a chance. The dream I had for Madhya Pradesh has been shattered in past 18 months. — Jyotiraditya Scindia, four-time Lok Sabha MP, served as minister in both UPA govts

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