Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Feb 23: Resignations from the Congress ranks in the BJP-ruled states on the eve of the Rajya Sabha elections has become almost a routine feature in the last few years which has led to the deputy leader of the opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Hemant Katare suddenly resigning from his post has led to some suspicions despite his insisting that he had no plans to join the BJP.
The resignation followed by two days of silence, and a carefully worded clarification have triggered a fresh political storm in state capital Bhopal. Mr Katare stepped down from his post and disappeared from public view for 48 hours. He then resurfaced on Monday to insist his decision was personal. He cited ‘family reasons’, denied any plan to join the ruling BJP and categorically ruled out there were any differences with his party superior, the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Umang Singhar.
But the Rajya Sabha elections for three seats in MP next month has raised the suspicion about Mr Katare’s plans despite his attempts to douse the flames. He said he had prepared extensively to raise issues such as Bhagirathpura in the Assembly but could not even attend a family wedding due to his commitments. He dismissed speculation about joining the BJP and called Singhar his ‘elder brother’, and said he would accept whatever decision the party takes on his resignation.
As of Monday evening, however, it is unclear if the resignation was accepted. But the BJP maintained that “several” Congress members were “in touch” to join the ruling party but there was “no entry” for them. However, the arithmetic disfavour the statements.
For the election of three seats in the Rajya Sabha in the 230-member MP Assembly, each of the candidates would require 58 first preference votes. The BJP has 165 MLAs and the Congress 64. The Bharat Adivasi Party has one seat.
The BJP has enough votes to win two seats with 49 votes still in hand. To win all three, it needs additional nine votes and could clinch the seat if it can encourage cross-voting among at least seven Congress MLAs. On the other hand, the Congress could safely win one seat if it can keep at least 91 per cent of its MLAs in tact. It is not very unlikely considering consistently Congress leaders have cross-voted in similar polls elsewhere. The Congress is also on shaky ground because if a handful of MLAs defect, or even abstain, the equation could shift in favour of the BJP. And that is where the political temperature rises.
