MP Elections 2023: In a surprising turn of events, the Congress party released a list of 144 candidates for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh state elections, and the absence of NP Prajapati, former Speaker of the State Assembly, has raised eyebrows and sparked political discussions. Sources within the Congress suggest that NP Prajapati played a pivotal role in the downfall of the Kamal Nath government, making his ticket denial a contentious topic.
The dramatic episode began when a group of rebel lawmakers within the Madhya Pradesh Congress was flown to a secret location in another state during the tenure of Kamal Nath’s government, a move that drew significant media attention. These lawmakers were later moved to Karnataka, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in power. The enticement to rebel against the Congress and offer their resignations was used to destabilize the Kamal Nath government.
The role of then-Speaker NP Prajapati became a subject of intense speculation during this tumultuous period. It is worth noting that 16 rebel lawmakers were escorted to the State Assembly under tight security, accompanied by the current Home Minister Narottam Mishra and Urban Development Minister Bhupendra Singh. The Assembly session witnessed a parade of these lawmakers, and their resignations were accepted without any hearings. The Speaker’s failure to conduct individual hearings or ascertain the reasons behind their resignations left a significant loophole in the constitutional process.
Although NP Prajapati was elected as Speaker with a clear majority, the circumstances surrounding the fall of Kamal Nath’s government brought his role under scrutiny. Even though the Congress enjoyed a majority in the Assembly, the government’s fall could not have occurred without NP Prajapati’s involvement in the rebellion against his own party.
In the wake of the government’s collapse, NP Prajapati aspired to become the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). However, the Congress leadership decided otherwise and appointed PC Sharma as the PAC chairman. Furthermore, NP Prajapati was denied a ticket to contest in the Gwalior Assembly constituency. The rationale behind this decision seems to be tied to his crucial role in the fall of the Kamal Nath government.
This situation draws parallels to a recent incident in Maharashtra where Shiv Sena lawmakers were transported to another state, following the Madhya Pradesh template, and a floor test was conducted to prove the stability of the government. Even today, lawmakers’ eligibility to serve in the Assembly remains a contentious issue, with the government relying on the support of the rebel legislators. The Speaker, in his capacity, should have scrutinized the resignations of the 16 lawmakers, but he accepted them without proper due diligence.
The allegations of monetary inducements amounting to crores of rupees have been a constant source of debate within the Congress. It has been claimed that each legislator was given a substantial sum, along with the promise of ministerial positions, in return for switching allegiance. The election expenses of each rebel lawmaker were covered by the BJP. The denial of an Assembly ticket to NP Prajapati has reopened discussions on the rebellion and the role of the Assembly Speaker in the Kamal Nath government’s fall.
In this political saga, NP Prajapati’s exclusion from the list of Congress candidates has added an intriguing twist, leaving many to ponder his significance in the dramatic events that led to the fall of the Kamal Nath government. As the state elections draw near, the absence of this prominent figure is set to remain a topic of discussion in the political circles of Madhya Pradesh.