Arunchal Pradesh governor J P Rajkhowa has turned down Chief Minister Nabam Tuki’s request to cancel Raj Bhavan’s order convening the state Assembly on December 16.
Tuki met Rajkhowa in the state capital on Tuesday, but the later remained firm on his decision. In turn, Tuki’s cabinet decided not to attend the session claiming the governor’s order wnet against all constitutional rules and procedures.
In yet another twist to the evolving political crisis, Speaker Nabam Rebia has disqualified 14 rebel Congress MLAs who wanted Tuki to be removed.
The MLAs include top leaders like former cabinet minister Kalikho Pul, Pema Khandu, Kumar Waii and Kameng Dolo. Deputy Speaker T N Thongdok has also been disqualified.
According to sources close to Tuki, out of 47 Congress MLAs, 26 are supporting him while 21 are with the rebel camp. The rebel camp also have the support of the 11 BJP MLAs and the two independent MLAs in the 60-member Assembly.
The disqualification seems to be a desparate measure to weaken the rebel camp, which the ruling Congress said is being fueld by the BJP with the active support of the governor to topple Tuki government.
Tuki has been on a war path with the governor for the past one month on several issues. Things turned sore when Rajkhowa on December 9 ordered a pre-ponement of the winter session of the Assembly from January 14 to December 16 and issuing a notice for impeachment of the Speaker as the first agenda on business for the session.
Sources in the rebel camp indicated that they along with BJP MLAs would attend the Assembly session on December 16 as convined by the governor. They are likely to move court on their disqualification as well.
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