Tough floor test for 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.

The Congress is keeping its cards on Arunachal Pradesh close to its chest after the governor on Friday rejected chief minister Nabam Tuki’s plea for deferring the floor test which he was directed to take by Saturday to prove his majority in the Assembly.

The party officials, who are claiming that the Congress has 45 MLAs in the state Assembly arguing that violation of the party whip could disqualify them, are tightlipped on whether they can approach the Supreme Court on Saturday. They said acting governor Tathagata Roy has to give “reasonable time” to Mr Tuki in light of the Supreme Court’s recent landmark judgment on imposition of President’s Rule in Arunachal.

“The governor cannot convene a session unilaterally. There are SC judgments in this regard. The Sarkaria Commission says at least 30 days have to be given for holding such a test. The governor can only advise the CM, who in consultation with his council of ministers, can convene an assembly session,” a senior Congress leader said.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said the party is ready for a test but the session has to be convened on government’s advice. Asked if Congress was ready for a floor test on Saturday, he said the Governor cannot dictate on when to convene the Assembly session.