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

Nabam Tuki, who was restored as Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister by Supreme Court yesterday, was today 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 communique informed Tuki that in obedience to the Supreme Court verdict he has been reinstated as chief minister of the state with effect from yesterday.
He also asked the chief minister to call the assembly session immediately and prove his majority in the house by July 16.
The communique 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.

Roy further emphasised that the conduct of the proceedings, including the videography in the house should strictly follow the principles laid down by Supreme Court in its order of May 6 regarding imposition of President's Rule in Uttarakhand (SLP C 11567/2016) Union of India Vs Harish Chandra Singh Rawat, a Raj Bhawan release said.

A note to this effect has also been sent to the assembly secretariat, it said.
Tuki arrived here this evening after assuming charge of 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.
"With this party composition, I wonder whether Nabam Tuki will be able to win a confidence vote," he said.
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 today, said the assembly needs at least 10 to 15 days to summon a session.
"I have received the governor's order asking the state government to go for floor test by July 16 which is practically impossible keeping in mind the uneven topography and inclement weather besides the communication bottlenecks in the state," he told reporters.