Dissident Congress leader Kalikho Pul, accompanied by 31 MLAs, on Monday called on Arunachal Pradesh governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa to stake claim for forming the next government in the state which is
Dissident Congress leader Kalikho Pul, accompanied by 31 MLAs, on Monday called on Arunachal Pradesh governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa to stake claim for forming the next government in the state which is under President’s Rule.
Mr Pul submitted a memorandum, staking claim to form the government in the state, a Raj Bhawan communiqué said. He was accompanied by 19 Congress MLAs, along with 11 BJP legislators and two independent members.
The 19 Congress MLAs included, rebel Congress legislators and five Congress MLAs, including Mr Chowna Mein, Mr C.T. Mein, Mr Zingnu Namchoom, Mr Wangki Lowang and Mr Honchu Ngandam who claimed to be with the other group of the Congress party. They also submitted a separate memorandum reaffirming their support to Mr Pul. “They reaffirmed their support to the leadership of Mr Pul to be the head of the council of ministers that may be sworn in at the end of the President rule,” the communiqué said. Eleven BJP legislators led by Opposition leader Tamiyo Taga also submitted a memorandum to the governor stating their unconditional support to Mr Pul. The two independent MLAs — Paknga Bage and Tsering Tashi — also submitted a memorandum extending their support to Mr Pul by affirming their support to Pul as the new leader of the house, the communiqué informed.
The governor assured the MLAs of forwarding their claims to the President, after examining and consulting legal experts. It is for the President to decide whether to lift Central Rule in the state or not, and when, he said.
It is for the President to make a decision on reviving the life of the Assembly by revoking the suspension order, he said.
The governor hoped that there will be a stable, solid and democratically elected people’s government in the state on the revocation of the President Rule, the communiqué said.
The governor advised the 32 MLAs and also to those currently staying outside to be in the state and attend to the welfare of the people who elected them.
BJP MLA Taga made it clear that the party would be supporting a Congress government led by Mr Pul as the leader and had no intention to form a BJP-led government in the state, the communiqué added.
Meanwhile, deposed chief minister Nabam Tuki claimed over telephone from New Delhi that the governor would recommend to the President on Monday to lift the Central Rule in the state to pave way for forming a new government.
A five-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court which is considering pleas against imposition of the President Rule in the state, is hearing petitions seeking examination of constitutional schemes on the scope of discretionary powers of the governor.
Last week, the apex court also uphold the decision of the Gauhati high court in favour of Speaker Nabam Rebia for accepting resignation letters of two Congress MLAs — Gabriel Denang Wangsu and Wanglin Sawin.
