'No confidence' motion 'adopted' against Nabam Tuki govt in Arunachal

The political crisis gained pace after Governor J P Rajkhowa advanced the three-day winter session of the state assembly from Jan 14 to Dec 16

A political crisis is prevailing in the Northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh after 20 legislators from the ruling Congress party turned dissidents, and along with 11 BJP MLAs and two independents, impeached the speaker yesterday and elected a new leader of the legislative party today. All of this, from a makeshift premise.

The political crisis, that was in the brewing, got fast-paced after Governor J P Rajkhowa advanced the three-day winter session of the state assembly from January 14 to December 16. The Nabam Tuki-led Congress government alleged that the Governor was acting at the behest of the Centre and with the motive to dislodge the government.

Sensing trouble, the government, through the administration, locked the gates of the Assembly yesterday, preventing any sitting of the Assembly. However, the dissident Congress MLAs, together with BJP and independent MLAs, held the Assembly proceedings from a Community Hall yesterday after seeking approval from the Governor. It was presided over by the deputy speaker, T Norbu Thongdok, who too is a dissident Congress legislator. The 33 members present during the proceedings, unanimously impeached the Speaker, Nabam Rebia. The government termed the move unconstitutional, so did Rebia.

Today the proceedings of the Assembly were shifted to a new venue amidst high drama. A no-confidence motion was brought today by BJP legislators against the incumbent Tuki-led government and the motion was adopted. Kalikho Pul was elected as the leader of the legislative party. The new chief minister elect is expected to meet the Governor later today to stake claim. It appears the state is heading towards a constitutional crisis if the incumbent chief minister decides not to resign and stay put in the office.  

Arunachal Pradesh has a 60-member assembly with the Congress party having 47 legislators, including the dissident members.