The BJP got partial relief and, say party leaders, at least some breathing space to make attempts to arrange a majority in the Uttarakhand Assembly after the Supreme Court stayed the Uttarakhand High Court order revoking President’s Rule in the State.
Senior party leaders including party president Amit Shah and general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya had gone into a huddle with senior Union Ministers Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh on Thursday when the High Court order came in.
“Forming a government is a priority, but now a lot depends on what happens to the petition of the nine disqualified Congress MLAs,” said a senior party leader, privy to discussions. Without the rebels, the strength of the Uttarakhand Assembly falls to 62 (total strength of the Assembly is 71, including a nominated member), and the magic number for majority at 32. The Congress has 29 MLAs (including the nominated member and one rebel BJP MLA) and BJP 27 MLAs in that scenario.
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“We are trying to talk to the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) including 3 Independent MLAs and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with 2 MLAs along with the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) with one MLA,” said the leader. “At the moment the PDF is with the Congress, but Satpal Maharaj, BJP leader who has influence because he is a religious figure as well has been asked to speak to those who may want to support us,” said the leader.
On Friday, while anxiously awaiting the Supreme Court’s order on the petition moved by the Centre for a stay on the High Court order, the party dismissed all suggestions that it had fomented trouble for the Congress government in the State.
“The Congress cannot blame the BJP for trouble in its own ranks. If party leaders like Vijay Bahuguna are not being heard, then why blame the BJP,” said party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi.
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