A day after the Supreme Court refused to stop the dissident leaders and the Governor in Arunachal Pradesh from forming a new government, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday sought the revocation of President’s rule in the State imposed on January 26.
Anticipating the Cabinet’s recommendation, Congress leaders met President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday to update him of the case.
Congress leaders met the President to counter the dissenting MLAs, who led by Congress leader Kalikho Pul met Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa on Monday. The dissidents had staked a claim to form a government. Mr. Pul was accompanied by 19 rebel Congress MLAs, along with 11 BJP legislators, and two Independents.
On February 11, the Congress sought the Supreme Court’s intervention to “restrain” Mr. Pul from being sworn in as Chief Minister. But the court rejected the plea.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told The Hindu that the party presented the case to Mr. Mukherjee, explaining that the dissident leaders lacked the numerical strength to form a government as it has 45 members in the 60-seat Assembly (of which two MLAs have resigned). “They don’t have two-thirds majority. Out of the 21 [dissidents], 14 MLAs have been removed. If any new government is allowed, it will be formed on illegal grounds” Mr. Azad said.
Ever since the political crisis started, the Congress has accused the BJP of fomenting unrest in the State to unseat its government. The crisis started when Mr. Rajkhowa issued an order stating that the “removal” of the Speaker should be on top of the agenda in the Assembly session on December 16.
