Buoyed by SC decision, BJP hopes to get its way in Uttarakhand

Buoyed by the Supreme Court order on yesterday staying the Uttarakhand High Court's decision nullifying President's Rule and reinstating Harish Rawat as the chief minister, the BJP said it was confident of having its way in the state.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya welcomed the apex court's order on yesterday.

"The Supreme Court has stayed the Uttarakhand High Court's order. We welcome it, but the stay is temporary as the next hearing is on April 27," Vijayvargiya said.

Laying to rest the Congress' concern that with the President's Rule back in place, the Centre may revoke it and the BJP may stake a claim to form the government, the apex court has asked the Centre to maintain the status quo till the next hearing on April 27.

However, Vijayvargiya dismissed such concerns.

"We are not in a hurry to form the government in Uttarakhand. It is Harish Rawat who seemed to be in a hurry to become the chief minister that he did not even wait for a day," he said.

The high court set April 29 as the date for Harish Rawat to prove his majority in the 70-member assembly. However, with the high court's order stayed that does not seem to happen now.

"The judicial process may take its own time. But the matter should be heard by a larger constitutional bench of the Supreme Court as the Uttarakhand High Court's decision was not satisfactory to all," the BJP leader said.

Besides, the second issue of disqualification of nine rebel legislators of Congress led by Vijay Bahuguna, is lined up for hearing in Uttarakahnd High Court on Saturday.

The high court had in an earlier hearing on April 12 refused to grant any temporary relief to the disqualified legislators. If the high court maintains its stand on Saturday, the rebel lawmakers too may approach the apex court.

"Even if these nine MLAs are disqualified, it would not help Harish Rawat's case because there are many more people who are unhappy with the chief minister. If a floor test happens on April 29, it would prove as much," Vijayvargiya said.

In the 70-member Uttarakhand assembly, the BJP has 29 legislators, the Congress has 36 -just the majority mark - while the rest comprise six seats. With nine legislators going against Rawat, the Congress strength has been reduced to 27.