The Kamal Nath-led Congress government scored a 10-day reprieve on Monday as the Madhya Pradesh Speaker adjourned the assembly meeting without any trust vote until March 26 citing coronavirus, after a one-minute address by Governor Lalji Tandon. Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath now has plenty of time to try and save his government.

Nath in a letter to Governor Lalji Tandon said that holding of a floor test in the Assembly was not possible in view of some MLAs of the Congress being held in “captivity” by the BJP with the help of Karnataka Police.

“I would like you to recall that when I met you on March 13, 2020, I had brought to your notice that BJP has kept many Congress MLAs as a captive under the control of Karnataka Police and they were forced to give different types of statements. I have clarified that in such a situation holding any floor test has no meaning and it will be undemocratic and unconstitutional,” India TV News quoted with the name of Mr Nath.

The Supreme Court will hear written petition on Tuesday (March 17) filed by BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan and nine other BJP MLAs seeking immediate floor test for proving the majority of Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh assembly within 12 hours.

In the house has 230 seats, the Congress has 114 seats and BJP has 107 seats. The government was formed by Congress after the elections in December 2018 with the support of 7 other MLAs. The petitioners claim that 22 MLAs of ruling Congress have submitted their resignation to the Speaker on March 10, “on account of dissatisfaction with the Hon’ble Chief Minister for non-fulfilment of promises made prior to elections”, LiveLaw reported.