In obedience of the Supreme Court judgment on Wednesday, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Tathagata Roy has reinstated Nabam Tuki as the Chief Minister of the State on and with effect from that date of the verdict even as the Governor has asked Tuki to call a session of the State legislative Assembly not later than Saturday (July 16) to prove his majority on the floor of the House.
The Governor said this in a statement issued on Thursday and said that he has informed Tuki about this and said that he had also sent a note to this effect to the Secretary of the Arunachal Pradesh legislative Assembly.
Roy has further desired that in order to ensure that the proceedings of the legislative Assembly may take place peacefully and otherwise appropriately, the same shall be videographed throughout and the majority as aforesaid proved by Division and not by Voice Vote.
“The Governor further emphasised that the conduct of the proceedings, including the videography, in the House shall strictly follow the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in its order dated May 6, 2016 in the matter pertaining to the matter of imposition of President’s Rule in the State of Uttarakhand (SlP C 11567/2016) Union of India Vs Harish Chandra Singh Rawat,” the statement said.
Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on Wednesday arrived in State capital Itanagar from New Delhi and said that he was confident of proving his majority in the House. “However, I would request the Governor to defer the floor test by a day or two as it will be difficult for the legislators to come from far flung areas in the landlocked State,” Tuki said on Thursday.
“The SC order yesterday has turned the clock back to December 15, 2015. Although the Congress deserters have become members of Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) now, they have become Congress legislators after the SC verdict yesterday. I am in touch with all of them and they are going to support me in the House,” said Tuki. Tuki, however, blamed the BJP for trying to mislead the legislators in the State.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Kalikho Pul on Thursday lined up the 30 PPA legislators at a hotel in Guwahati during a Press conference and said that ‘legally’ he is the Chief Minister of the State. “I was informed that the Governor of the State has asked Tuki to prove his majority on Saturday. I congratulate Tuki for winning the legal battle but I hope the Arunachal Pradesh legislative Assemblywill give a well reasoned verdict to Tuki on Saturday,” he said.
“The party composition of Arunachal Pradesh assembly as of now is Congress 15, PPA 30, BJP 11 and Independents two. With this composition, I wonder how Tuki will be able to win a floor testIJ We are sure of our numbers and are sure of defeating Tuki’s Government on the floor of the August House,” he said.