Kalikho Pul parades 30 MLAs, says will defeat Nabam Tuki

A day after suffering a major setback, Kalikho Pul, the unseated chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, paraded 30 MLAs before the media and said that he was confident of defeating Nabam Tuki in the floor test on Satrurday.

Pointing out that dissident MLAs of the Congress have merged with the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA), he asserted that altogether 43 MLAs, including 11 of the BJP, are with him. Mr Pul said that the Congress has been reduced to 15 MLAs in the House of 58 representatives. “This will be re-established during the floor test on Saturday,” said Mr Pul while alleging that Mr Tuki had been calling up many legislators who deserted the Congress in February. He said that his 30 MLAs were united and would remain with him.

Talking to reporters in Guwahati, Mr Pul accused Mr Tuki of misinterpreting the order of the apex court and said that the apex court had passed ruling on three core issues relating to pre-poning of the Assembly session, conducting Assembly outside the premises and removal of the Speaker. “These three factors don’t affect my appointment as chief minister. I was appointed chief minister after revocation of President’s Rule in February. The decision to restore pre-December 15 status will not change the number,” he said.

He, however, added that he respected the Supreme Court’s verdict and would go by the order of the governor asking Mr Tuki to prove his majority on the floor of the house on Saturday in Itanagar while pleading that law and order in Itanagar must be maintained by the administration.

Mr Pul said that he had decided not to challenge the apex court’s order as the legal battle may give a longer lease of life to the reinstated chief minister, Nabam Tuki.

The governor has asked Mr Tuki to prove majority on the floor of the House on Saturday and directed the presiding officer of the state Assembly to ensure that entire proceedings of the house be conducted in an orderly manner and videographed. Chief minister Tuki has sought more time to prove his majority.

Speaker Nabam Rebia, who was also reinstated by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, appealed to all the Congress members to strengthen Mr Tuki’s hands for overall development of the state.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ordered restoration of the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh while quashing all decisions of governor J.P. Rajkhowa that precipitated the fall of the Tuki government in January.