New Delhi: Congress on Thursday said Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul winning the floor test was "not the last chapter" as the issue is before the Supreme Court.
"It is not the last chapter. The whole issue is before the Supreme Court," party spokesman Ashwani Kumar told reporters when asked about the dissident Congress leader proving his majority on the floor of the Assembly with the support of 40 MLAs.
The 40 MLAs who lent support to Pul comprised 27 Congress legislators, 11 from BJP and two Independents. The nine Congress MLAs of the former chief minister Nabam Tuki camp who shifted their allegiance to Pul on Wednesday voted for him. The Speaker did not vote.
The 17 Congress MLAs loyal to Tuki were absent following CLP chief whip (Tuki group) Rajesh Tacho's stern direction to abstain from voting in support of Pul. However, chief whip of CLP (Pul group) Pema Khandu had issued another whip directing the party MLAs to vote in favour of the incumbent chief minister.
A revolt by Congress dissidents led by Pul led to a political crisis in the state that finally led to imposition of President's rule on January 26. The Supreme Court was considering pleas against imposition of President's rule and also hearing petitions seeking examination of constitutional schemes on the scope of discretionary powers of the Governor.
After Centre's recommendation for withdrawal of President's rule, Congress moved the Supreme Court and got an order for maintenance of status quo in the crisis-ridden state till it examined judicial and assembly records on disqualification of 14 rebel Congress MLAs by former Speaker Nabam Rebia.
However, later, the apex court virtually paved the way for government formation in Arunachal Pradesh by vacating its order on maintenance of status quo.
Comments
0 comment