There is a constitutional dilemma in Madhya Pradesh as more than three weeks have passed since the state Assembly Speaker abruptly adjourned the Monsoon Session sine die but the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Ajay Singh is still not sure whether or not the governor has prorogued the session.
At a press conference here on Saturday evening, which was addressed by Congress general secretary and former chief minister Digvijay Singh, Leader of the Opposition Ajay Singh said, “According to information available with him, the governor has not signed the necessary document to prorogue the Monsoon Session.” At this juncture, Digvijay Singh said he does not know on whose advice the governor wrote a letter to the state government asking that the House be reconvened. Under the Constitution, this matter should have been restricted between the governor and the Assembly Speaker, he added.
Madhya Pradesh Assembly’s Monsoon Session, which began on July 8 and was scheduled to conclude on July 19, was adjourned sine die on July 11 by the Speaker as the ruling side used its majority to pass a resolution rejecting a no-confidence motion moved by the Congress legislators against the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government without discussion.
The main Opposition Congress made great hue and cry and urged governor Ramnaresh Yadav to intervene and ensure that the House gets reconvened. The governor responded by shooting a letter to Assembly Speaker Ishwardas Rohani on July 20 advising that the House be reconvened. Subsequently, after meeting chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the governor also wrote a letter to the state government on July 25 in this matter. Instead of the government responding to it, senior BJP leader and former chief minister Sunderlal Patwa handed a hard-hitting letter to the governor, which said that instead of working on the Cabinet’s advice he has adopted the practice of advising the state government.