U’khand guv asks Rawat to prove majority by March 28

DEHRADUN/NEW DELHI: Uttarakhand governor KK Paul asked chief minister Harish Rawat on Saturday to prove his majority in the assembly by March 28 as the state stared at prolonged political uncertainty after nine Congress legislators backed the BJP.

The government and opposition camps kept a close watch on their legislators amid reports that some MLAs could switch sides in the run-up to the crucial vote. Without the nine MLAs, the Congress is in a minority in the assembly.

The 28-member BJP staked claim to form the government with the backing of 36 legislators, including the nine rebels, on Friday.

But the party may not have the numbers because the speaker can disqualify the for mer Congress members under the anti-defection law if they vote against the government.

Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal sought an explanation from the nine rebels and told reporters anyone in violation of the antidefection law will face action.

If the nine are disqualified, the state could be headed for President’s Rule less than a year before assembly elections.

Experts say the BJP won’t mind this scenario as it believes central rule will hurt the incumbent Congress. The Congress claimed it enjoyed the support of 35 legislators – one short of majority in the 71-member assembly – with state party president Kishor Upadhyay saying on Saturday he was talking to five or six rebel MLAs.

“They are in touch with me but I don’t want to open their names since their lives are in danger” he said. Rawat said six dozen legislators intend to rejoin the party.

The Congress rebels have been brought to Delhi for parleys with the central BJP leadership.

“The Harish Rawat government has lost majority. Today BJP has the numbers with the support of rebel Congress MLAs to form a new government in Uttarakhand,” Shyam Jaju, the state in-charge of BJP, told PTI. Rebel Congress MLA Pranav Singh ‘Champion’ told HT in Delhi that they (rebels) are ready to face the polls but there would be “no reconciliation”. Asked if they would support a BJP government, he said, “Vijay Bahuguna is our leader. We will do whatever he decides.”

The Congress has 36 members in the assembly – including the nine rebels – while the BJP has 28, including one expelled MLA.

There are three independent, two Bahujan Samaj Party and one Uttarakhand Kranti Dal MLA – all of whom are said to be supporting the Congress.

Rawat went into a huddle with cabinet ministers and speaker Kunjwal on Saturday. One nominated member from the Anglo-Indian community also supported the Congress.

“Time has been given to the rebel MLAs so that they apologise for their mistakes and return to the party fold”, the chief minister said in a statement. “Or else, action would be taken against them for violating the whip.”

He said the BJP bought the rebels by offering them ` 5-10 crore, a charge denied by state BJP spokesperson Virendra Singh Bisht. The governor accepted Rawat’s recommendation of sacking the minister-rebel Harak Singh. “The duo of Modi and Shah are infamous for forcible eviction of elected governments in this country. Elected government are being destabilised by a sinister conspiracy. After Arunachal Pradesh, it is Uttarakhand,” Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said.

The Rawat government plunged into crisis on Friday during the vote to pass the finance bill.

Professor MM Semwal, a constitutional expert at HNB Garhwal University, said the Rawat government might be reduced to a minority if the governor refused to ratify the finance bill, which appears to have been passed by a voice vote.

“In that case, the BJP could again demand for a conscience vote that might reduce the government to minority”, he said. “The nine rebel Congress MLAs though run the risk of inviting action under the antidefection law.”

Semwal said the governor cannot recommend President’s Rule unless the Rawat government failed to prove its majority on the floor of the House.