Nabam Tuki seeks 10 days time for Arunachal floor test, Governor rejects

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh appeared headed for another round of political turmoil with the Governor on Friday rejecting reinstated Chief Minister Nabam Tuki's plea for deferring the floor test which he was directed to take by tomorrow to prove his majority in the Assembly.

Tuki, who was reinstalled by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, met acting Governor Tathagata Roy today and sought postponement of the floor test by at least ten days.

Tuki could face an uphill task to prove his majority since ousted Chief Minister Kalikho Pul has claimed the support of 43 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly.

Pul, accompanied by 43 MLAs including 11 BJP and two independent members, are slated to arrive here from Guwahati late night, sources said. Pul heads the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA), which also includes Congress rebels.

Tuki told reporters after meeting the Governor, who yesterday gave the direction for taking the floor test by July 16 that he sought more time on the advice of legal experts.

The Governor, however, rejected the plea of Tuki, who led a Congress government that fell in January after the controversial role played by the then Governor J P Rajkhowa.

Citing apprehension that the present government does not command required majority in the Assembly, the Governor asked Tuki to prove his majority on the floor of the House tomorrow, a Raj Bhavan communique here said.

The Governor also emphasised that a sense of security among the people must prevail and deterrent action must be taken to ensure foolproof law and order arrangement in the state, the communique added.

Tuki, accompanied by Home Minister Tanga Byaling, called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan during the day and requested him to defer the show of strength by 10 days, saying that it was not possible to hold it at a short notice.

"I requested time for 10 days at least to prove my majority on the floor of the House. Governor said he will consult with legal experts, take advice of the Advocate General and decide appropriately," Tuki said when asked about the Governor's response to his plea. Tuki yesterday appealed to the Congress rebels to return to the party fold.

Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia said it would not be possible to convene a session of the Assembly at such a short notice. "There is an established system (for convening a session). A letter has to come from the parliamentary affairs department and we will have to issue summons," he said.

The district administration has made elaborate security arrangement for the proposed floor test.