ITANAGAR, Feb 25 - It was a smooth sail for the newly sworn in Chief Minister Kalikho Pul who today cleared the floor test in the Arunachal State Assembly on expected lines a day after being elected new CLP leader.
Excepting the newly-elected Speaker Wanki Lowang, altogether 40 MLAs, including Congress�s 27 and BJP�s 11 members and two independents, voted in favour of the motion of confidence moved by Chief Minister Pul on the floor of the Assembly.
Pul, sworn in as the eighth Chief Minister on February 19 amid protests from AICC as well as APCC leadership, enjoys the support of 28 Congress MLAs, besides outside support from 11 BJP and two independent legislators in the 58-member House following unseating of two Congress MLAs.
Before the motion of confidence was adopted by voice vote and members putting signature on paper for a record, members cutting across political affiliations took part in the discussion and supported the motion.
Stating that he was standing here (in Assembly) as the leader of the House after a 13-month-long �struggle�, Pul narrated the series of happenings that led to start of dissidence within Congress party that eventually led to formation of the new dispensation under his leadership. Further stating that majority counts in a parliamentary form of government under a democratic set up, Pul said he was taking the floor test to re-tell people about the confidence he enjoys.
Claiming that the State�s developmental activities came to a standstill during the previous govt headed by Nabam Tuki, Pul said, �A strong political willpower was needed on our part to take back the State on the path to development.�
In a shocking revelation, the Chief Minister said that his family was given life-threats from underground elements, while he was camping in Delhi, besides being asked to leave for their home district, Anjaw.
Seeking to clear the air on the Congress allegations that Governor JP Rajkhowa and opposition BJP had a key role behind the political turmoil in the State, the Chief Minister told the House that the Governor and BJP had no role in it at all. �It was just a fight within Congress and nothing else.� He also said that unseating of two MLAs � Gabriel D Wangsu and Wanglin Sawin � was �really unfortunate�.
Senior BJP member Tamiyo Taga said that the BJP with 11 members in the House is extending unconditional support to Kalikho Pul government from outside in the interest of the State�s development and better governance as there was total mis-governance and mis-management during the previous regime. Earlier, the Assembly session commenced with State Governor JP Rajkhowa delivering the customary address to the House.
