New Delhi, Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader Vivek Tankha on Saturday wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind demanding imposition of President's rule in Madhya Pradesh if BJP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan fails to form a cabinet.

Calling it an "unconstitutional governance", Tankha hit out at Chouhan, saying the people of Madhya Pradesh deserve a better rule with a cabinet in place, particularly during a pandemic "when the state is suffering constant deaths daily".

"Madhya Pradesh deserves to be governed by a cabinet. This is what the Constitution mandates. Madhya Pradesh cannot be deprived of this constitutional privilege and especially so in this extreme crisis situation," said Tankha.

"Alternatively, if the Chief Minister is unable to form his cabinet because of issues beyond his control, then a case of breakdown of constitutional machinery will be self-evident in the state, warranting the Union to consider the imposition of President's rule in the state."

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who assumed office on March 23, is yet to form his Cabinet. Though he has been devising strategy with his core team of officers, the fact is there are no ministers at a time when the number of COVID-19 patients in Madhya Pradesh is on the rise.

Quoting Article 163, Tankha said, "A Government of a sole CM i.e. one-man government without a cabinet is an unthinkable constitutional anathema."