Trouble for Uttarakhand govt as BJP stakes claim with rebel Cong MLAs


New Delhi, Mar 19 (HT) : The Congress-led government in Uttarakhand plunged into crisis on Friday night as the Opposition BJP staked claim to power with what it said was support from nine ruling party lawmakers.

Chief minister Harish Rawat, who took the hot seat in 2014 after an intense intra-party power struggle, said his government was safe with the backing of 35 legislators in the 70-member assembly.

“I am confident and will prove my majority on the floor of the House,” he said.

The crisis unfolded when rebel Congress legislators, led by former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, supported the BJP’s demand for a conscience vote in favour of the appropriation bill in the assembly.

Congress ministers almost came to blows before speaker GS Kunjwal adjourned the House till March 28.

Late in the evening, BJP leader Ajay Bhatt led 27 party legislators to the Raj Bhawan to ask governor KK Paul to dismiss the Congress government, saying it doesn’t have the numbers to rule. The Opposition party sought to form the next government with the support of nine Congress rebels and a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislator.

“The 36 legislators will meet the governor to stake claim,” state BJP vice-president Dhan Singh Rawat said.

Chief minister Rawat enjoyed the support of 42 legislators — 37 from the Congress, three Independents and two BSP members — while the BJP has 28 MLAs. The BJP’s total strength would be 37, a comfortable majority to form its government, if the nine Congress MLAs loyal to Bahuguna join the rival camp.

But constitutional experts said all eyes will be on the assembly Speaker, who could disqualify the rebels under the anti-defection law.
The immediate trigger of the crisis is said to be a notice to Bahuguna and cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat for not attending assembly sittings regularly. When the House met in the morning, the duo along with legislators loyal to Bahuguna walked over to the rival BJP to protest the appropriation bill.

Harak Singh told a news channel that he had resigned from the cabinet.

The central leadership, already saddled with a similar crisis in Arunachal Pradesh, is said to be speaking to some of the rebel MLAs.
The Congress, which has 47 MLAs in the 60-member Arunachal assembly, suffered a jolt when 21 of them revolted and 11 BJP MLAs backed the rebels in the bid to upstage the Nabam Tuki government. Later, Congress dissident Kalikho Pul became chief minister with the BJP’s support.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Clifford, Mangalore

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    BJP is not satisfied with the power they have got but want more power so that they can loot all they can before next general election.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • SMR, Karkala

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    India need a strict law on anti defection.This is against the voters rights.

    My proposal "No candidate regardless of party they represent, will be allowed to contest an election by him or by his bloodline for complete term of 5 years if elected representative crosses party".

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Frazer Town,B'lore

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    Defecting the party under whose symbol won and jumping to the other party to dethrone the majority government and elevating the minor party to majority is a step of frustration and bound to back fire.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Desi Jawan, Mangaluru

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    One more Congi governed state bites the dust! Slowly congress mukth desh... Bharath Matha Ki Jai.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Michael Noronha, Mysuru

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    In Karnataka under Yediyurappa as CM the BJP started "Operation Kamala" and started unethical politics for survival until the people of Karnataka threw them out of power. The same fate awaits the present central government if they continue this way of horse trading. It appears the BJP is good at horse trading and breaking the horses' legs as done to 'horse shaktiman'.A party which claimed to be different from Congress has failed to live upto its promise.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • RSRB, Kundapura / Singapore

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    Michael Noronha, Mysuru

    Your logic is confusing..
    Horse leg breaking is a crime...
    Illegal Cow slaughtering is not...

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • j.anata, Mangaluru / Mumbai

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    Surprising to see a very senior leader and ex CM like VIJAY BAHUGUNA revolting against High Command and aligning with opponent in Uttarakhand.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramesh S, MANGALORE

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    ..thats why a BJP MLA was arrested on lies..now it seems Horse attack also by Congress..yesterday there was vote in assembly on a bill..rebel Congress MLAs along BJP MLAs threatened to defeat the bill..to avoid fiasco, state Congress CM ordered arrest of MLA so that he can Govt..

    DisAgree [9] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    Ramesh, Did the Horse belong to Congress ...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Clifford, Mangalore

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    You don't distort truth. Did you not see the photograph of BJP MLA beating the horse in the media. Or do you think it was morphed like JNU videos.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter, Bangalore

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    Basically most of the politician are power greedy.
    Expecting anything from these is our foolishness.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dev Kumar, Mangalore/Surat

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    Peter..
    Power greedy we have seen during BBMP election..when congress mingled with JD.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Valerian D'souza, Udupi / Mumbai

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    Politicians here are so desperate to topple and rule.
    Powergames! Who will be so desperate to rule?
    Will they ever bring prosperity to the nation and common man?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dev Kumar, Mangalore/Surat

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    Looks like in coming days only north eastern states will retain by congress. As it's wish of good mother to see her son become prime minister..why not sworn in Mizoram..a final destination.

    Hum bhi Khush...Sab Log bhi Khush..

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jeevan, mangalore

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    Next in karnataka.,...

    DisAgree [7] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ilyas, Qatar

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    Haha karnataka janakulhe 1 kordhe sakadu potundu nana karnataka du bjp dream du matra

    DisAgree [9] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • JP, Mangalore/Dubai

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    Looks like these guys are not learnt from 'Operation Kamala' in Karnataka ! Digging their own grave !!

    DisAgree [12] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dev Kumar, Mangalore/Surat

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    Within two weeks BJP is going to form government in Uttarkand as well as in J & K.
    Madidu..eega anubavishu..

    DisAgree [14] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    Dev, my old friend Harsha Malhotra also used to say the same ...


    DisAgree [11] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    Backdoor Governments do not last LONG ...

    DisAgree [16] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • santhosh, Mangalore

    Sat, Mar 19 2016

    One more state down..LOL

    DisAgree [11] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Trouble for Uttarakhand govt as BJP stakes claim with rebel Cong MLAs



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