Pul 'elected' new CM through 'composite floor test'

Our Correspondent

Itagar, Dec 17: The bam Tuki-led government in Aruchal Pradesh today ‘failed’ to prove absolute majority during a ‘composite floor test’, the motion for which was tabled by 11 BJP MLAs and two independent members.

Thirty three members including 20 dissident Congress MLAs, extended their support for Kalikho Pul as the ‘new chief minister’ of the State.

The opposing MLAs shifted to a new venue today after miscreants vandalized the earlier venue last night where they held proceedings. In those proceedings conducted at a harlagun community centre, the opposing legislators had adopted a motion ‘impeaching’ Speaker bam Rebia.

Though the opposing legislators tried to enter the Assembly today, they were not allowed by security forces. The members with due consent from Governor J P Rajkhowa then shifted the venue to the conference hall of Y T Hotel at harlagun.

As per the directive of Speaker, the district administration had sealed the legislative assembly premises since yesterday.

The session, which was chaired by Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok passed the motion by voice votes and sigture consent by 33 members in the absence of 26 Congress MLAs including Tuki and his council of ministers.

Thongdok, while announcing Pul as the ‘new leader of the House’, said that the proceedings would be sent to the Governor who would ask the new chief minister and his council of ministers for swearing-in accordingly.

There were also reports of stray violence, with supporters of bam Tuki burning tyres on roads and blocking all roads leading to Raj Bhavan.

The deputy Speaker informed that the composite floor test was introduced by the Supreme Court of India in the case of Kalyan Singh and Jagadambika Pal in the UP assembly for the first time in the country where members irrespective of party affiliation could participate in no confidence motion against the government.

“Since the current situation of the State is similar to that of Uttar Pradesh, the motion was brought in accordance to the apex court judgment on a special leave petition No 4498/1998,” Thongdok said.

He added that only maximum six members are required to table such a motion as per laid down norms but in the current session 13 members moved it.

Earlier, tabling the no-confidence motion in the parallel session, Opposition Leader (BJP) Tamiyo Taga alleged that since April this year, the members of the sixth legislative assembly have been experiencing lack of confidence with the council of ministers led by bam Tuki.

“Because of his (Tuki’s) mis-governce and mis-magement, nepotism and corruption, the members are gradually withdrawing their support from him. Though it is a Congress government with absolute majority of 47 members, we cannot participate in the no confidence motion, but looking at the situation we are compelled to bring the motion,” Taga said.

The Opposition leader further alleged that the fincial position of the State deteriorated under Tuki while contractors payment, stipends, salaries were not paid.

The deputy Speaker, however, called the Chief Minister and other sitting ministers to participate in the discussion of the motion but they stayed away from the proceedings.

Later the session passed the motion by voice votes before Thongdok adjourned the ‘House’ sine die.

Earlier, the ‘House’ also took obituary reference in respect of former President A P J Abdul Kalam who, passed away on July 27 this year at a private hospital in Shillong due to cardiac arrest. A two-minute silence was observed in respect to the departed soul.