Uttarakhand floor test: BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi concedes defeat in Assembly vote

The Supreme Court will officially declare the results of the floor test on Wednesday

Uttarakhand Assembly floor test was concluded on Tuesday and the Supreme Court will receive the result in a sealed cover on Wednesday. According to reports, the Congress has claimed victory in the floor test.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's MLA Ganesh Joshi on Tuesday conceded the party had lost the floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly on Tuesday. 

"The BJP has won the battle of principles, but lost the game of numbers," Joshi told news agency ANI after the floor test. 

He also accused the Congress of using money power to win the floor test. "We did not use money power, perhaps if we had, we could have got this," he was quoted as saying.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the Uttarakhand High court's ruling that prevented nine rebel Congress members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from voting in the crucial floor test. The rebel MLAs challenged the decision of the Uttarakhand High Court which has dismissed their petition against their disqualification by Assembly speaker.

On March 27, Uttarakhand was brought under President's rule by the Centre on grounds of "breakdown of governance". 

President Pranab Mukherjee signed the proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution, dismissing the Congress government headed by Harish Rawat and placing the Assembly under suspended animation on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet.

Here are the recent developments in the matter: 

1) Leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party, which has 2 MLAs in the Uttarakhand Assembly, on Tuesday said her party would support the Congress party in the Supreme Court-mandated floor test. 'No deal with BJP, our party is supporting Congress', says BSP Chief Mayawati was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. In another development, Congress MLA Rekha Arya was seen arriving at the Assembly with BJP leaders, suggesting she has switched sides. 

2) A day before the scheduled floor test, in a boost to Chief Minister Harish Rawat, the Uttarakhand High Court dismissed a petition filed by nine Congress MLAs against their disqualification, a decision that will bar them from participating in a crucial floor test in the Assembly on Tuesday. 

3) Two days ahead of the Tuesday floor test in the Uttarakhand assembly, a video of a new sting operation allegedly showing a Congress legislator talking of bribe to at least a dozen party MLAs to keep them on ousted chief minister Harish Rawat's side surfaced.

The sting allegedly shows Congress MLA Madan Singh Bisht admitting to payment of Rs 25 lakh each to 12 legislators. 

4) The Supreme Court on May 6 ordered a floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly on May 10.

In a significant order detailing the modalities of the floor test to be conducted on Tuesday between 11 am and 1 pm for the single agenda, the court directed that the nine rebel Congress MLAs, who have challenged their disqualification by the Speaker in the High Court, will not participate in the floor test "if they have the same status" at the time of vote of confidence.

According to the order, the nine disqualified Congress MLAs would be able to vote if the High Court permitted them.

5) The Supreme Court on April 27 extended its stay on the quashing of President's rule in Uttarakhand, ensuring that the April 29 floor test in the Assembly ordered by the High Court would not take place.

However, while hearing the Centre's appeal against the Uttarakhand High Court judgement, the apex court framed seven tough questions and even gave liberty to the Attorney General to include other questions the government would like to be addressed.

6) The Uttarakhand High Court on April 21 quashed the imposition of President’s rule in the state.

A Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Chief Justice K M Joseph and Justice V K Bist, said that the March 27 proclamation of the Centre to put Uttarakhand under President’s rule was contrary to the law laid down by the Supreme Court. 

The Bench restored the Harish Rawat-headed Congress government but asked it to prove its majority in a fresh floor test on April 29.

A day later, the Supreme Court ordered the Uttarakhand High Court order be kept in abeyance till April 27.

7) Questioning the Central government's assertion on the political crisis in the hill state, the Uttarakhand High Court on April 20 told the ruling dispensation that even the president can go wrong.

"There is no decision like that of king, which can't be subject to judicial review. That's the essence of Constitution. Even the President can go wrong, everything is subject to judicial review," the High Court said.

8) The Centre moved the Uttarakhand High Court on March 30 challenging an interim order by a single bench directing a floor test in the Assembly on March 31, days after President's Rule was imposed in the state.

In response to the Centre's petition, a two-judge division bench of the Uttarakhand High Court stayed the floor test on the Assembly floor. 

9) The Uttarakhand High Court on March 29 told former chief minister Harish Rawat to take a floor test in the Assembly on March 31.

10) March 28, former chief minister Harish Rawat moved the Uttarakhand High Court seeking revocation of President's Rule in the state and restoration of his government. Additionally, Rawat termed the Modi government's decision to impose President's rule as a "brazen display of high-handedness and authoritarianism".