Hours before the President's rule was withdrawn in
Arunachal Pradesh, the Supreme Court refused a suggestion by the State's
Congress party leaders to order a floor test to be conducted in the
Arunachal Assembly. The apex court’s decision to lift its order of
status quo in the border State had cleared the road for withdrawal of
the emergency and the possible consequence of a new government being
formed with dissident Congress leader Kalikho Pul as Chief Minister.
Mr.
Pul has already staked his claim to form the government with a majority
backing of 32 MLAs in the Assembly. The Supreme Court on Thursday
refused to intervene in Gauhati High Court's interim stay on the
disqualification of the 14 rebel Congress MLAs who tilted the balance
against the ruling Nabam Tuki government, triggering political crisis
which led to the proclamation of emergency on January 26.
Pushing
for an order for floor test, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said all the
apprehensions of the Congress in Arunachal were coming true.
But
the Bench refused, saying that though a floor test may be a “possible
manner of dealing with the issue,” it could not be done now as the
Supreme Court was still hearing the case.
“We have
suspected all this [alleged bid to revoke President's Rule and install a
new government]. We have told our apprehensions to the court and now
all that are coming true,” Mr. Sibal said. Mr. Sibal raised another
apprehension, asking what would happen if the Centre and Governor J.P.
Rajkhowa swore in a new Chief Minister, but later goes on to dissolve
the House to ensure that power remains in their hand till snap polls
were held.
Sources: The Hindu
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