Madhya Pradesh political crisis: Speaker accepts resignations of 16 rebel Congress MLAs

As crisis looms for Congress in the Madhya Pradesh, Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati onn Friday accepted the resignations of 16 rebel MLAs who are presently lodged in a Bengaluru resort and sent their resignations on March 10.

Confirming the development, Prajapati said, "The resignations of all the MLAs who are in Bengaluru and are not willing to come back, and who had submitted their resignation on March 10, have been accepted."

The Speaker also asserted that the Assembly is following the directions of judiciary. 

Earlier, on Thursday, the Supreme Court had ordered a floor test to be held on Friday. The BJP had filed a petition in the top court for immediate floor test after 22 rebel Congress MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from the Assembly. A bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud said the floor test would be held by show of hands in accordance with the law and it should be completed by 5 pm on Friday.

The court also asked Karnataka Police and Madhya Pradesh Police to provide security to the MLAs if they want to come to Bhopal.

Notably, after the acceptance of resignations of 16 Congress MLAs the Assembly's strength has come down and the new majority mark is 104. BJP has 107 MLAs in the Assembly, cleary paving the way to form the government in state.

Meanwhile, both Congress and BJP have asked their legislators to be present in the Assembly during the trust vote.