Congress chooses fresh face in Arunachal

Khandu, who has served as the tourism, art and culture minister in the state, is known to have opposed Tuki led government for a long time now.

The Assembly now has an effective strength of 58 in which BJP has 11 and Independents 2.

The Supreme Court also set aside the order of the deputy speaker of setting aside the order of the speaker of Arunachal Pradesh Assembly.

“Tuki has proposed the name of Khandu as the CLP leader and he has been seconded by Chowna Mein”.

In the 60-member house, Congress is precariously placed as 21 of its MLAs continue to be rebels and are with the ousted Chief Minister Kalikho Pul.

Congress’ floor test for proving majority in Arunachal Pradesh has been cancelled for today, after Pema Khandu replaced Nabam Tuki as CLP chief. “Therefore, he has no right to continue as the Chief Minister”, Pul told ANI here.

The BJP had played a major role in installing a government of rebel Congress legislators through controversial role played by the Governor.

Born in picturesque Gyangkhar village in Tawang district, which shares its border with China, Khandu junior was little known in the State’s political landscape until his foray into politics in 2011 after his father’s demise. Tuki tendered his resignation as the Chief Minister. “We are all part of one family”, Sibal had said. “The BJP sought to break Arunachal Pradesh, divide and finish the Congress party”.

The Congress also feels that as per the Supreme Court judgement of the constitution bench, the Governor can not call an assembly session.

He also lashed out at BJP chief Amit Shah for precipitating a politics of destabilising the Congress-ruled state governments.

Attacking Amit Shah, AICC general secretary incharge of Arunachal Pradesh affairs C P Joshi, said it was a blow to his plans of making the north East “Congress-mukt” (Congress-free) as he had convened a meeting of the North-East Council formed by him the day the Supreme Court judgement came. “There are no differences and the Congress is united after the intervention of Sonia and Rahul”.

In an interesting political development, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has stepped down from his post ahead of floor test.

Further, the apex court found the direction by the governor in the manner of conducting the proceedings of the legislative Assembly liable to be quashed for violating Article 163 and Article 175 of the Constitution.

However, the order on Arunachal is unprecedented since it has called for restoring a government even after a subsequent government has taken the oath of office. The Congress hopes that a stay from the high court will give a breather to the state government.