Harish Rawat writes to Uttarakhand Governor, requests for chance to prove majority

Dehrudun: Hour's after President's Rule was imposed in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Harish Rawat on late Sunday night requested Governor to give him a chance to prove majority in the house tomorrow.

According to news agency ANI, Rawat along with other senior leaders met Uttarakhand Governor today and submitted a letter requesting for a chance to prove majority in the Assembly.

Harish Rawat writes to #Uttarakhand Governor, requests for a chance to prove majority in the house tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/wkDw5Fncj1 — ANI (@ANI_news) March 27, 2016

Upset over imposition of President's Rule in the state, which had sent the political temperature in the state soaring, the Congress party today said that they would challenge the move in the court.

Uttarakhand Speaker, Govind Singh Kunjwal, earlier disqualified nine Congress legislators, who had rebelled against the former chief minister Harish Rawat-led government in the state.

 

The decision to disqualify the nine legislators would reduce the effective strength of the 70-member assembly to 61.

"I have taken a decision to disqualify nine party (Congress) MLAs from the assembly under anti-defection law in view of the petition filed by Uttarakhand Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hridayesh," said Kunjwal.

The development comes even as President's Rule was imposed in the state today following recommendation from the Union government.

As of now the Harish Rawat government is to face confidence motion in the Assembly tomorrow.

The rebel Congress legislators on Saturday released a sting video of Rawat and alleged he was indulging in horse-trading to save his government. The video purportedly showed him bargaining with rebel party lawmakers to win their support ahead of the floor test on Monday.

Reacting to the video, the BJP demanded President's Rule in the state, saying Rawat has no right to continue.

A recommendation to impose President's rule was made during an emergency cabinet meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday night. Later, President Pranab Mukherjee gave his nod in this regard on Sunday.

Kunjwal, however, said that the Assembly would function as usual until he received an official letter from the Governor KK Paul.

 

"Business advisory committee's meeting was conducted and in that we have decided upon tomorrow's work. If we do not receive any official letter from the governor regarding this (imposition of President's rule), Assembly will work as scheduled," said Kunjwal.

This move comes as a major setback to the Congress as Arunachal Pradesh was also put under President's Rule in January after dissent from some party legislators. However, the province got a new government under one of the rebel legislators, who was sworn in as the state chief last month.

(With Agency inputs)