Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has written to the Governor Lalji Tandon seeking the removal of six ministers, who are loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the Congress party on Tuesday. The copy of the letter, shared by a state Congress spokesman, mentioned the names of Imarati Devi, Tulsi Silawat, Govind Singh Rajput, Mahendra Singh Sisodiya, Pradyumn Singh Tomar and Prabhuram Chaudhari.

Scindia, a former MP from Guna, tendered his resignation to party president Sonia Gandhi. In his resignation letter, he said, "It's time for me to move on." He also said that he will look ahead for a fresh start to meet the aspirations of the people.

Gandhi immediately expelled him from the Congress for anti-party activities, as the crisis looming over the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh deepened.

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“The Congress president has approved the expulsion of Jyotiraditya Scindia from the Indian National Congress with immediate effect for anti-party activities,” according to a statement from AICC general secretary K C Venugopal.

Noting that the events of the day had been drawing themselves out for a year, Scindia wrote to Gandhi saying that it was now best for him to look at a fresh start. “Having been a primary member of the Congress party for the last 18 years. It is now time for me to move on. I am rendering my resignation from primary membership of the Congress and as you well know this is a path that has been drawing itself out over the last year,” Scindia wrote in his letter.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath writes to Governor Lalji Tandon for the removal of six ministers loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia. Sources told PTI   that as many as 19 MLAs of the ruling party sent their resignation letters to the Raj Bhavan via e-mail. “We have received resignations of 19 MLAs through e-mails with attachments,” a Raj Bhawan official said.

Commenting on the development, Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury said, Congress nurtured Jyotiraditya Scindia for years, but he found it convenient to switch to another party. Some sort of allurement, enticement offered by BJP convinced Jyotiraditya Scindia to switch over. Political convenience, personal ambition played major part in Jyotiraditya Scindia’s decision: Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury to PTI.

Earlier in the day, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah amid indications that he might join hands with the BJP to topple the Madhya Pradesh government.

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Infighting in Congress

In Delhi, sources said hectic efforts were underway by the Congress leadership to save the party’s government in Madhya Pradesh, and placate Scindia who has long been at daggers drawn with Kamal Nath over leadership issues.

The party high command is sending emissaries, including Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, to Scindia in order to win him back. But the efforts have not borne any fruit yet, they said.

On Tuesday, Pilot tweeted, “I am hopeful that the current crisis in Madhya Pradesh ends soon and that leaders are able to resolve differences. The state needs a stable government in order to fulfil the promises make to the electorate.”

Congress veteran and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh said Scindia could not be contacted.

“We have not been able to talk to him yet... Anyone who is a true Congressman will not leave the party,” he said, adding the people of the state would give a befitting reply to anyone who attempts to undermine their mandate.

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