Acting Governor in Arunachal Pradesh Tathagatha Roy has denied Chief Minister Nabam Tuki’s request to defer a floor test in the Assembly to prove his majority, PTI reported. Roy had earlier asked Tuki to prove the Congress’ majority in the Assembly by Saturday. However, the state's Speaker said it might not be possible to convene the Assembly on Saturday, at such short notice.
Tuki said, “The direction to prove my majority on the floor of the House on or before July 16 gives me less than 48 hours’ time since my arrival in Itanagar today. Many of my colleagues/MLAs are out of station, and I am trying to contact them.” Calling the governor's direction “hasty” and “completely unwarranted”, Tuki wrote to Roy and sought “reasonable time” for a floor test. The party currently has 15 legislators in the 58-member Assembly.
He cited the Sarkaria Commission’s recommendations on holding a floor test that states, “Generally, it will be reasonable to allow the chief minister a period of 30 days for the summoning of the Assembly, unless there is very urgent business to be transacted like passing the Budget, in which case, a shorter period may be allowed. In special circumstances, the period may go up to 60 days.”
Tuki took charge as chief minister on Wednesday evening, after the Supreme Court reinstated the Congress government in the state. On Wednesday, the top court bench had directed a status quo ante (a return to the original status) in the state as it prevailed on December 15, 2015, when it was placed under President’s Rule.
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