4-day old Pema Khandu government passes floor test
The Pema Khandu Government in Arunachal Pradesh on 20th July, 2016, passed the floor test with 56 MLAs voting in favour of the CM and 11 members from the BJP voting against him. The day-long session was hurriedly summoned on the night of 19th July, 2016 by the Governor. Mr. Khandu, addressing the members, appreciated them for placing their faith in his leadership.
On 9 December 2015, Arunachal Pradesh Governor J.P. Rajkhowa preponed the winter session of the state assembly. Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee president Padi Richo said this amounted to the murder of democracy. He said that his party would protest this move and boycott the session. Arunachal CM Nabam Tuki also sought legal opinion on whether the governor was constitutionally empowered to take such decisions.
In a special session convened by Arunachal Governor, the assembly passed an impeachment motion removing Speaker Nabam Rebia. The motion was moved by a voice vote. The special session was conducted by Deputy Speaker TN Thongdok at a temporary location in Itanagar. The motion was backed by 33 MLAs, which included 20 rebel Congress MLAs, 11 BJP leaders and two independents.
A day after the Speaker's removal, BJP and rebel Congress MLAs united to show "no confidence" in the Nabam Tuki-led Congress government. A rebel Congress MLA Kalikho Pul was chosen as the new "chief minister". Since the Assembly premises had been sealed by Tuki's party, the opposition and rebels Congress MLAs met at a conference hall of a hotel to take the decision.
President's rule has been imposed in Arunachal Pradesh after the Union Cabinet's recent recommendation over the political turmoil in the state. Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said, "I am totally surprised by the cabinet's recommendation for imposition of President's Rule in my state." The Congress has threatened to move the SC over the Cabinet decision.
The Congress moved the Supreme Court against the Cabinet recommendation to impose President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh. The President met a delegation of senior Congress leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mallikarjun Kharge and SC lawyer Kapil Sibal. Targeting the PM, Rahul Gandhi called the move a "murder of democracy". He added that "The Congress will fight this attack on our Constitution, on people's mandate."
Kalikho Pul, was sworn in as the ninth Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh with the support of 18 rebel Congress MLAs, two independents and 11 BJP MLAs. PM Narendra Modi extended best wishes to the new government and expressed hope that it would fulfill the people's aspirations. The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee claimed that Pul and his supporters were no longer its members.
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court invalidated Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa's decisions in the AP assembly, paving the way to reinstate a Congress government in the state. The court stated all the decisions were violative of the Indian Constitution and are liable to be quashed. Former Congress govt CM Nabam Tuki may have to face a floor test.
Ahead of the Arunachal Pradesh floor test, Pema Khandu was appointed the new Congress Legislature Party leader. His appointment came after Nabam Tuki resigned due to internal discord in the party over his leadership. Tuki had requested some time before the floor test, but the request was quashed by Governor Tathagata Roy. Roy said that monsoons would advent; which would postpone the floor test.
