ITANAGAR, July 14 - Nabam Tuki, who was restored as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh by the Supreme Court yesterday, was today asked by the Governor to take a floor test by July 16 to prove his majority in the State Assembly.
However, Tuki, who led a Congress government that fell in January after the controversial role played by Governor JP Rajkhowa, said that he needed time to face the floor test.
Talking to reporters after attending office, Tuki said he would request the acting Governor Tathagata Roy to defer the proposed floor test as it is �not possible� within a short span of time.
The Governor informed Tuki in a communique that in obedience to the Supreme Court verdict he has been reinstated as the Chief Minister of the State with effect from yesterday. He also asked the Chief Minister to call the Assembly session immediately and prove his majority in the House by July 16.
In order to ensure peaceful proceedings, the floor test should be videographed throughout and the majority should be proved by division and not by voice vote, the communique added.
Roy further emphasised that the conduct of the proceedings, including the videography in the House, should strictly follow the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in its May 6 order regarding imposition of President�s Rule in Uttarakhand (SLP C11567/2016) Union of India Vs Harish Chandra Singh Rawat, a Raj Bhawan release stated.
A note to this effect has also been sent to the Assembly Secretariat, it added.
Tuki arrived here this evening after assuming charge of Chief Minister of the State at Arunachal Bhawan in New Delhi yesterday following the apex court verdict.
Speaker Nabam Rebia, who too attended office today, said the Assembly needs at least 10 to 15 days to summon a session. �I have received the Governor�s order asking the State Government to go for floor test on July 16, which is practically impossible keeping in mind the uneven topography and inclement weather, besides the communication bottlenecks in the State,� he told reporters.
The Speaker also appealed to all Congress members to strengthen Tuki�s hands for the overall development of the State.
The Supreme Court yesterday ordered restoration of the Congress government, saying the �clock should be turned back�, as it quashed all decisions of Governor Rajkhowa that precipitated its fall in January, holding them �violative� of the Constitution.
Tuki arrived here from New Delhi to a rousing welcome and drove straight to his office from the Naharlagun helipad. There he convened a meeting with senior bureaucrats, including in-charge Chief Secretary Satya Gopal.
He later told reporters that his priority will be to continue all the programmes and policies which were left incomplete before his government was �illegally voted out of power�.
�I will continue with my pro-people development initiatives, including infrastructure development, road connectivity, skill development and employment generation besides giving special thrust on health, education and security to the people,� he said.
Terming yesterday�s Supreme Court verdict as �historic�, he said, �The judgement protected the Constitution of India and is a victory of democracy in the country.�
�The (SC) verdict has brought Arunachal to the attention of the entire nation and is good for all the political parties as they are totally protected now,� Tuki said, adding it had also clearly defined the powers of a Governor.
Taking a dig at BJP, he said some leaders tried to destabilise the popularly elected Congress government in the State and now they are denying their involvement which exposed their character before the people.
Asked whether the government would now demand the resignation of Governor JP Rajkhowa, Tuki said, �He should take his own decision to protect the sanctity of the institution.� � PTI
