BJP names Scindia as its RS candidate from MP

02:09 March 12

Scindia to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections

Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP on Wednesday, will file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections on March 13. Scindia is slated to arrive in Bhopal on March 12 (Thursday).

 "BJP leader and former Union Minister Jyotiradtya Scindia will arrive in Bhopal tomorrow afternoon. He will garland the statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, Vijayaraje Scindia, Kushabhau Thakre, and the portrait of Madhavrao Scindia in the party office," a statement from party leader Lokendra Parashar said. 

"On March 13, Scindia will arrive at the party office at 12 pm. He will then go to file nomination for Rajya Sabha elections," he added.

23:39 March 11

Congress is same, but Scindia has changed: KC Venugopal 

In a fiery reply to Jyotiraditya Scindia's claim that "Congress is not the same what it used to be", Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said, on Wednesday, that "It is Scindia who has changed now."  

Venugopal also said that the Congress President is working on the names of Rajya Sabha candidates of Congress party. The final list is likely to be announced by Thursday as the last date for nomination has been scheduled on Friday.

23:23 March 11

The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh is as good as gone, with Jyotiraditya Scindia having crossed over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

19:59 March 11

Scindia's induction will strengthen party in MP: VD Sharma

Madhya Pradesh BJP chief VD Sharma hails Scindia's induction to the party fold and said that it will further strengthen the party in the state.

"The party will get strengthen in the Madhya Pradesh. He is the grandson of Vijaya Raje Scindia who had played a great role in spreading the ideology of Bharatiya Jana Sangh and later the BJP."  

Sharma also heaped praised Scindia for supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

17:33 March 11

BJP nominates Scindia for Rajya Sabha

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominated Jyotiraditya Scindia for Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh soon after his joining the party. 

16:55 March 11

BJP leader Yashodhara Raje Scindi welcomes Jyotiradity to the party

Party will form state govt again under Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Yashodhara

BJP leader Yashodhara Raje Scindia, aunt of Jyotiraditya, welcomed her nephew to the party and expressed confidence that the party will form the state government again under former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. 

She further said, "Family was divided into two as there were two different political parties. It's natural that if you have political differences, it seeps into family too. This step has made all small issues of differences to go away.We're on 1 stage now."

"The arrival of my nephew (in BJP) will provide even more strength to PM Modi in politics at the centre," she added. 

16:24 March 11

All BJP MLAs from MP lodged in Manesar hotel

New Delhi: The BJP has hosted all its legislators -- 106 of them -- from Madhya Pradesh at Manesar's The Grand ITC Hotel, sources said on Wednesday.

Located around 50 km from the national capital, the MLAs are joined by several senior BJP leaders in the five-star hotel. The entry to the hotel is restricted for common public and private vehicles, sources added.  

It is learnt that three Congress MLAs - reported "missing" by Congress -- too are among the BJP MLAs staying at the Manesar hotel.

Sources said that Kailash Vijayvargiya, a senior BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh, has already met these MLAs at the hotel. Vijayvargiya was accompanied by BJP's Rajya Sabha MP and Haryana unit in-charge Anil Jain, the sources added.

Senior Haryana police officers are present in the hotel for overseeing the security of the MP lawmakers. The passage from the hotel to the village nearby has also been closed, putting villagers to inconvenience.

The BJP has, by putting together all its MLAs in the hotel, has given clear indications that the state unit is united and that the claims of the Congress to win the floor test in the state would prove "hollow".

16:21 March 11

Horse-trading being done 'shamelessly' in MP: Gehlot

Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday accused the BJP of "shamelessly" indulging in horse-trading in Madhya Pradesh on the basis of money power.

Those ruling the country are murdering the democracy and the entire country will teach them a lesson, he told reporters at the airport here as he arrived to receive Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress decided to shift its MLAs to Jaipur to keep its flock together at a time when Madhya Pradesh is witnessing a power tussle.

"Horse-trading is being done shamelessly and MLAs are being threatened there (Madhya Pradesh). The MLAs are coming to Jaipur from Madhya Pradesh and we all are together," Gehlot said, referring to the BJP.

He said that all this is being done on the basis of money power.

"I have been repeatedly saying that a big scam is being run in the country in the name of electoral bonds. People are being looted by scaring them with the name of CBI and ED," he said.

15:51 March 11

Welcome Scindia in BJP: Chouhan

Bhopal:Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday welcomed former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia in the BJP.

Talking to reporters here after Scindia joined the BJP in presence of party president JP Nadda in Delhi, Chouhan also defended Scindia's decision to leave the Congress.

"The disgruntlement of Maharaj (Scindia) with the Congress is justified," the BJP leader said.

"This is a joyous day for BJP and me personally.

Today, I remember Rajmata Scindia. Jyotiraditya Scindia has become a member of the BJP family. The entire family is with BJP. They have a tradition where politics is a medium to serve people," Chouhan said.

15:08 March 11

Congress party is not anymore the party that it was earlier: Scindia

Scindia thanks J P Nadda, PM Modi and Amit Shah for inducting him to BJP.  

He said, "I would like to thank JP Nadda ji, PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah that they invited me to their family and gave me a place in it."

He further added," There have been 2 life changing events for me - one, the day I lost my father and the second, yesterday when I decided to choose a new path for my life...The Congress party is not anymore the party that it was earlier."

15:01 March 11

JP Nadda welcomes Scindia with a BJP shawl

JP Nadda expressed happiness over Scindia joining BJP.

 He recalled Scindia's grandmother Vijaya Raje in the formation of the Jana Sangh.

14:51 March 11

Jyotiraditya Scindia joins BJP

New Delhi:Jyotiraditya Scindia joins Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at party headquarters in Delhi. 

BJP President JP Nadda, Anil Jain, Arun Singh, Dharmendra Pradhan and other senior BJP leaders are present to welcomes Scindia.

14:39 March 11

Scindia arrives at BJP headquarters, to be formally inducted into the party

Scindia reaches BJP headquarters, to be formally inducted into the party. 

Jyotiraditya Scindia to join BJP in the presence of party president JP Nadda at party headquarters. There will be media briefing shortly.

14:37 March 11

People will teach Scindia a lesson, such opportunists should have left the party long ago: Ashok Gehlot

Jaipur:Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, at Jaipur Airport talking to reporters about Jyotiraditya Scindia leaving the party said, " Such opportunists should have left the party much earlier. Congress party gave him so much for 18 years.  

He further said, "Mauka aane pe maukaparasti dikhai hai. People will teach him a lesson."

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot arrived at Jaipur airport to receive Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh.

14:28 March 11

13 of 22 rebel Cong MLAs say they won't quit Cong, confident of winning floor test: Digvijaya Singh

Bhopal:Thirteen of the 22 rebel MLAs in Madhya Pradesh have given an assurance that "they are not leaving the Congress", senior party leader Digvijaya Singh said on Thursday while expressing confidence that the Kamal Nath-led government in the state will win a floor test.

"We are not keeping quiet. We are not sleeping," Singh said, a day after Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress and 22 MLAs submitted their resignations from the assembly in Madhya Pradesh.          

As uncertainty grew over the future of the Congress government in the state, pushed to the brink of collapse, Singh said nobody anticipated that Scindia, a former Union minister and four-time Lok Sabha MP, would quit the party.  

"We did not anticipate that Scindia will quit the Congress... that was a mistake," Singh said.            

He added that Scindia was offered the post of Madhya Pradesh deputy chief minister but wanted his nominee. However, Kamal Nath refused to accept a "chela", he said.

Scindia, Singh said, could have been a Congress nominee to the Rajya Sabha but "only Modi-Shah" can give a Cabinet post to the "over-ambitious" leader.  

The senior leader also claimed that Scindia was roped in by the BJP after Shivraj Singh Chouhan failed to topple the Cong government in Madhya Pradesh. He alleged that the MLAs were offered a huge amount of money. 

14:18 March 11

Scindia on way to BJP HQ

New Delhi:Jyotiraditya Scindia  is on his way to BJP office and will join the party shortly. 

14:13 March 11

BJP tried to form govt in Maharashtra too but failed: Sanjay Raut

Mumbai:Shiv Sena leader, Sanjay Raut on political situation in Madhya Pradesh said, "BJP tried to form govt in Maharashtra too but failed. No such operation will be successful here. Surgeons like us are sitting here in operation theatre. If anyone comes to do it, he himself will be operated upon."

He further said, "It's not BJP's fault. It was Congress who could not manage their leaders."

14:04 March 11

Removal of Scindia's nameplate from Congress's office

New Delhi:Nameplate of Jyotiraditya Scindia was removed from Congress office in Bhopal on Tuesday.

13:57 March 11

BJP leader Zafar Islam arrives at Scindia's residence

New Delhi:BJP leader Zafar Islam has arrived at Jyotiraditya Scindia's residence to meet him. According to sources, They are expected to drive down to the BJP HQ together after lunch.

13:54 March 11

Scindia's BJP posters come up in MP's Bhind

Posters of Jyotiraditya Scindia with Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Union Home Minister Amit Shah, put up in Bhind.

13:10 March 11

Kamal Nath govt will prove majority, complete its term, says Cong leader Bala Bachchan

Bhopal:Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Bala Bachchan on Wednesday said that the Kamal Nath government will prove the majority in Assembly and complete its five-year term.

Bachchan said, "Congress is in a safe and strong position. Everybody is in touch with the Chief Minister, everything will be alright soon. We will prove majority on the floor of the Assembly and our government will continue till 2023." 

13:00 March 11

95 Cong MLAs reach Bhopal airport, to leave for Jaipur: Minister

Bhopal:According to sources, 95 Congress MLAs reaches Bhopal airport, to leave for Jaipur.

12:59 March 11

MP virus' won't strike Maha govt: Shiv Sena

Amid political turmoil in Madhya Pradesh, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut expressed confidence that his party-led Maharashtra government is safe and said the "Madhya Pradesh virus" will not enter the state.

The Shiv Sena is leading a coalition government in Maharashtra with the NCP and the Congress.

12:22 March 11

We are in touch with 19 resigned MLAs: Jitu Patwari

Bhopal:Congress leader Jitu Patwari said, "We are in constant touch with all the 19 MLAs who had resigned. They will come back and we will form the govt again."

12:13 March 11

Karnataka Youth Congress members detained by police

Bengaluru:Youth Congress workers protest outside Prestige Golfshire in Bengaluru, where 19 Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs, who tendered their resignations yesterday are staying.

Later, the workers were detained by police as they continued their protest of meeting the resigned MLAs. 

11:56 March 11

MLAs will return soon: Congress MP Nakul Nath

New Delhi:Congress MP Nakul Nath (son of Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath) said, "MLAs who have gone to Karnataka will soon return to the Congress fold. I am very confident the government will survive."

11:50 March 11

Over 80 Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh to arrive in Jaipur soon: Sources

Bhopal: Amid the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, over 80 Congress MLAs from the state are expected to arrive in Rajasthan on Wednesday afternoon, sources said.

"The party MLAs are reaching here from Madhya Pradesh," they said.

Earlier, the sources had said that the legislators would arrive at the Jaipur airport at 11 am, but that has been delayed.

Meanwhile, three luxury buses have reached the airport which will be used to take the MLAs to a resort located near the Jaipur-Delhi highway. 

11:30 March 11

Rahul Gandhi tweets amid MP crisis

Amid Madhya Pradesh's political crisis, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Hey @PMOIndia , while you were busy destabilising an elected Congress Govt, you may have missed noticing the 35% crash in global oil prices. Could you please pass on the benefit to Indians by slashing #petrol prices to under 60₹ per litre? Will help boost the stalled economy."

11:26 March 11

Rahul Gandhi refuses to answer question on Scindia

Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi refuses to answer question on Jyotiraditya Scindia quitting the party.

11:14 March 11

MP government will survive, all independent MLAs are with Congress: Independent MP MLA

Bhopal:Independent Madhya Pradesh MLA Surendra Singh Shera said. "The government will survive. All independent MLAs are with us. We will bring back the MLAs who are in Bengaluru." 

11:13 March 11

Scindia to join BJP today?

According to sources, Jyotiraditya Scindia will join the BJP today at the party headquarters at around 12:30 pm. Top BJP leaders are likely to be present.

11:12 March 11

Bengaluru(Karnataka):The MP MLA's who were undergoing in the Operation Kamala of BJP, are staying in Golfshire Resort of Bengaluru.

This is their second day of stay in the resort.  

It is also said that the 17 MLAs of Madhya Pradesh celebrated Holi inside the resort till midnight.  

10:57 March 11

Congress MLAs to stay at a Jaipur hotel

According to sources, Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh to reach Jaipur at 11 am, will be staying at a resort; arrangements being made on directions of Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot. 

10:41 March 11

Let's wait for the floor test: Arun Yadav

Ex-state Congress chief, Arun Yadav said that Congress party is a family and one could discuss any issue at the meeting. 

He said, "Everything is fine. Let's wait for the floor test."

10:40 March 11

We will prove majority on the floor of the house: Shobha Oza

Bhopal:Congress leader Shobha Oza told reporters outside CM Nath's residence that Congress's majority will be proven on the floor of the house.

She said, "We will prove the majority in the house. All the Congress MLAs were mislead, they are with us. Even some of teh BJP MLAs are also in touch with us."

10:21 March 11

Days of Raja-Maharajas are long gone, our govt will survive: MP Congress MLA Arjun Singh

Bhopal: Congress MLA Arjun Singh after meeting chief minister Kamal Nath in his house on Wednesday told reporters here, "The Congress government (in Madhya Pradesh) will stay. You will see on 16th, the number (of MLAs) will stay the same. Him (Jyotiraditya Scindia) leaving does not affect anything, days of Raja-Maharajas are long gone." 

10:16 March 11

Party is united, BJP's 'divide and rule' conspiracy won't succeed: Madhya Pradesh Congress

Bhopal:Amid political uncertainty in Madhya Pradesh following the resignation of Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 MLAs, the state Congress unit on Wednesday tweeted, "The entire Congress is united. The Congress government under the leadership of Chief Minister Kamal Nath in Madhya Pradesh is completely united and secure. The BJP's "divide and rule" conspiracy will never succeed. All our MLAs consider their accountability, duty and morality towards the people of the state." 

10:12 March 11

Scindia was "not at all sidelined":Digvijaya Singh

Bhopal:Jyotiraditya Scindia quit Congress claiming that he had been sidelined in the party referring to which Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh reiterated that Scindia was "not at all sidelined".

Taking to Twitter, Singh said that nothing in the Gwalior-Chambal division had moved without Scindia's consent in the last 16 months."No question, he was not at all sidelined. In fact, please ask any Congress leader from MP particularly from Gwalior Chambal Division and you would come to know nothing moved in this area without his consent in the last 16 months. Sad. But I wish him well under Modi-Shah tutelage!" Singh tweeted.

10:10 March 11

Congress reminds Scindia of key positions given to him over 18 years, says he 'broke trust'

Bhopal:A day after Jyotiraditya Scindia quit Congress claiming that he had been sidelined in the party, the Madhya Pradesh Congress on Wednesday hit out at him by highlighting the key positions, including a berth in the Union council of ministers, he held during his 18 years of association with the Congress.

The state Congress unit took to Twitter and asked Scindia as to why he still chose to go "under the shelter of Modi-Shah (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah) duo?"

"In Scindia's 18 year political career, Congress made him Member of Parliament for 17 years, Union minister twice, chief whip, national general secretary, in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, Congress Working Committee member, election campaign head, 50-plus tickets and 9 ministers were given. Still under the shelter of Modi-Shah?" the MP Congress tweeted in Hindi along with an image referring that Scindia had "broken the trust".

09:22 March 11

Crisis-hit Cong to shift its MLAs out of Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal:In a bid to keep its flock together, the crisis-hit Madhya Pradesh Congress has decided to shift its 92 MLAs either to Jaipur or some other place.          

The move comes after 22 Congress MLAs loyal to former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned on Tuesday, pushing the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government to the brink of collapse.          

"We are going to take our 92 MLAs and those supporting our Madhya Pradesh government to a hotel," a senior Congress leader said on Wednesday.  

The legislators would be taken either to Jaipur or some other Congress-ruled state like Chhattisgarh, a party source said.          

Apart from its own MLAs, the Congress is also keeping a close watch on four Independents who are supporting the party-led state government.   

On Tuesday, 22 Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh resigned soon after Scindia quit the party.          

The development reduced the Congress government in the state to minority.          

The state Congress unit is now making all efforts to save the Kamal Nath-led government.          

The BJP on Tuesday night shifted its MLAs to Manesarat Gurugram in Haryana, sources in the saffron party said.          

The Congress, whose tally before the rebellion was 114, has a wafer-thin majority in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly whose current effective strength is 228.          

It also has the support of four Independents, two BSP legislators and one SP MLA, but some of them are now likely to switch sides to the BJP.          

The BJP has 107 seats in the state Assembly.  (wih agency inputs)