Although the Supreme Court has refused to allow the disqualified MlAs to participate in the trust vote, the new development in Uttarakhand does not make Harish Rawat’s task that easier in the Assembly on Tuesday. Sources said that the BJP has managed to poach at least two Congress MlAs — Rekha Arya and nominated MlA RV Gardener. They are learnt to be “missing”. However, the Congress claimed their house is intact.
Moreover the speculation about two BSP MlAs — Haridas and Sarbat Karim Ansari — shifting loyalty is also doing the rounds. BSP leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui from Uttar Pradesh is likely to reach Dehradun on Tuesday early morning to chalk out the party's strategy.
Interestingly, Uttrakhand BJP president Ajay Bhatt has given more twist to the political situation by pledging unconditional support to the BSP for the upcoming district panchayat election in Haridwar.
Congress MlA Rekha Arya, one of the Congress MlAs supposed to be missing, had switched to the Congress from the BJP on being denied a ticket from Almora constituency after it was vacated by BJP MP Ajay Tamta up on winning the general election-2014.