Tough floor test for Nabam Tuki today

Though Nabam Tuki counts Wednesday’s Supreme Court verdict reinstating his government in Arunachal Pradesh as a victory, the chief minister appears likely to lose Saturday’s floor test in the state Assembly with 43 legislators standing united with his opponent, Kalikho Pul, in Guwahati. The Arunachal Assembly has a strength of 80.

Chief minister Nabam Tuki met governor Tathagata Roy on Friday and sought the postponement of the floor test by at least 10 days, but the request was denied. Raj Bhavan PRO Atum Potom issued a statement in Itanagar on Friday that said, “They (the CM and the governor) discussed overall development of the state and law and order issues. They also discussed the ensuing floor test in the state Legislative Assembly to be convened on Saturday. Citing apprehension that the present state government does not command the required majority in the Assembly, the governor asked the chief minister to prove his majority on the floor of the state Legislative Assembly tomorrow (July 16).” State home minister Tanga Byaling was also present at the meeting, the statement said.

However, Mr Tuki said, “I requested at least 10 days’ time to prove my majority on the floor of the House. The governor said he will consult with legal experts, take the advice of the advocate general and decide appropriately.”

Meanwhile, 43 Arunachal Pradesh MLAs, in a signed letter to governor Tathagata Roy, expressed their lack of confidence in the leadership of reinstated CM Nabam Tuki on Friday.

This came to light through a letter from Joram Beda, the secretary to the Arunachal governor who on Friday summoned the Legislative Assembly secretary to verify the 43 signatures. A copy of the letter written to the Assembly secretary, in the possession of this newspaper, said, “We have received a letter by email on July 14, 2016 at 7.42 pm signed by 43 MLAs of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly expressing lack of confidence in Mr Nabam Tuki as CM of Arunachal Pradesh.”

“Therefore, as desired by the governor of Arunachal Pradesh, I am requesting the secretary, Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, to report to Raj Bhavan and physically verify the signatures of the 43 MLAs today (July 15) at 12 pm,” the letter said.

Meanwhile, all the 30 legislators who formed the Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA), two independents and 11 BJP legislators were camping in a Guwahati hotel on Friday.

Indicating that most legislators are not using their mobile phones, sources in the PPA told this newspaper that all the legislators would be leaving for Itanagar tonight or Saturday morning to take part in the floor test.

Though there have been some attempts to rope in legislators from the Kalikho Pul camp, sources said Mr Tuki has failed so far to convince even a single MLA to switch over.

Ousted CM Kalikho Pul, camping with his legislators in Guwahati, welcomed the governor’s decision asking Mr Tuki to prove his majority by Saturday. Mr Pul also expressed fear that Mr Tuki, by seeking more time, might try to indulge in horse-trading. “What would happen if a beleaguered CM, visibly reduced to a minority, refuses to call the House at the earliest and indulges in horse-trading,” Mr Pul asked.

Meanwhile, the Arunachal Pradesh BJP, in a meeting at Itanagar, passed a unanimous resolution extending unconditional support to the PPA in the floor test .

Arunachal Pradesh BJP president Tapir Gao told this newspaper his party would continue to support the Kalikho Pul-led PPA.