Nabam Tuki asked to take floor test by July 16, seeks more time

Nabam Tuki, who was restored as Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister by Supreme Court on Wednesday, was yesterday directed by the Governor to take a floor test in the Assembly by July 16 to prove his majority even as his ousted predecessor Kalikho Pul claimed support of majority MLAs.

However, Tuki, who led a Congress government that fell in January after the controversial role played by the then Governor J P Rajkhowa, said he needed time to face the floor test.

Talking to reporters in Itanagar after attending office, Tuki said he would request the acting Governor Tathagata Roy to defer the proposed floor test as it is "not possible" within a short span of time.

The Governor in a communiqué informed Tuki that in obedience to the Supreme Court verdict he has been reinstated as chief minister of the state with effect from Wednesday. He also asked the chief minister to call the assembly session immediately and prove his majority in the house by July 16.

The communiqué said in order to ensure peaceful proceedings, the floor test should be videographed throughout and the majority proved by division and not by voice vote.

Tuki arrived in Itanagar yesterday evening after assuming charge of the chief minister of the state at Arunachal Bhawan in New Delhi yesterday following the apex court verdict.

Parading 36 MLAs in front of the media in Guwahati, Pul claimed he has the support of 43 members of the state Legislative Assembly, which has a total strength of 60.

"We need to see the facts very carefully. The SC has not directed that the party composition shall be restored as on December 15. Accordingly, the party composition of the Arunachal Assembly is Congress - 15, PPA - 30, BJP - 11 and Independents - 2," Pul, who heads the People's Party of Arunachal(PPA), which also includes Congress rebels, told a press conference.

Two Congress members Gabriel Denang Wangshu and Wanglam Sawin have resigned under mysterious circumstances reducing the Assembly's effective strength to 58.

Tuki for his part claimed that the majority of the MLAs are with Congress and appealed to all rebels to support him to form a stable government as mandated by the people.

Speaker Nabam Rebia, who too attended office yesterday, said the assembly needs at least 10 to 15 days to summon a session.