Pema Khandu stakes claim to form govt. in Arunachal

Itanagar, July 16 (ANI): The much anticipated floor test in Arunachal Pradesh state Assembly was apparently cancelled after Nabam Tuki resigned as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader on Saturday. Congress MLA Pema Khandu, the son of former chief minister Dorjee Khandu, has been elected as the chief of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP). Tuki has resigned owing to internal disputes in the party over his leadership. "Today, I have staked my claim to the honourable governor. I have the support of full Congress MLAs. At the moment, we have support of 45 Congress MLAs and two independent MLAs," Khandu told reporters after meeting the Governor. "Right now, he has not said anything regarding the floor test. Since our former chief minister has resigned from the CLP and from the chief minister's post," he added. Khandu further said that Congress MLA Kalikho Pul has extended support to him. "However, nothing has been decided on the oath taking ceremony. The governor will examine my documents and then decide," he said. Meanwhile, Tuki, who resigned from the CLP leader post, said that he sacrificed all his powers to strengthen the grand old party. "My aim and objective is to strengthen the Congress Party. I am sacrificing all my positions and powers," Tuki said. He further informed that there is no rebel in the party. "All are united. There was lit bit of differences in opinion and expression. The BJP tried all options to de-stabilize the Congress. Now, the Congress know their tactics," he added. Former chief minister Nabam Tuki has resigned owing to internal disputes in the party over his leadership. Rejecting Tuki's request to provide some more time to hold the floor test to prove his majority, Governor Tathagata Roy yesterday said the floor test would go ahead as scheduled. Tuki, addressing a letter to the Governor had sought at least ten days time from for the floor test, but Governor Roy declined his request stating that in the view of upcoming monsoon, which might lead to rainfall and landslides, the deferment of floor test will be difficult. The Governor's directive came a day after the Supreme Court, in a historic verdict on Wednesday, restored Tuki as Chief Minister, a position he lost last December when Congress rebels, backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), staged a coup. Tuki-led Congress government was dismissed following days of turmoil after 21 of its 47 legislators rebelled against the chief minister. Eleven BJP MLAs backed the rebels in the bid to upstage the government. Later, 14 rebel Congress MLAs were disqualified. (ANI)