Constitutional and Political Crisis Deepens in Arunachal

Arunachal Pradesh is witnessing a bizarre turn of political events.

Speaker Nabam Rebia “voted out” by 33 legislators and dissident Congressman was “elected” chief minister. (Photo: PTI)

In a bizarre turn of events, Opposition BJP and rebel Congress MLAs on Thursday got together in a local hotel to “vote out” the Nabam Tuki-led Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh and to “elect” a rebel Congress MLA as the new “chief minister”. The dramatic development came a day after they “impeached” Speaker Nabam Rebia in a makeshift “Assembly” premises in a community hall.

The Gauhati High Court has had to intervene and has put on hold all decisions by the Governor and the rebel assembly. However, Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa plans to contest the decision.

The High Court put on hold until February 1, 2016 all decisions including Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa’s move to advance the winter session of the assembly by a month. But late in the night, the Governor’s office said he would appeal against the High Court order since he had not been heard in the matter. It added that the High Court order was issued “without going through records and materials available in the Governor’s secretariat”.

<a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/arunachal-crisis-gauhati-high-court-stays-governors-action-he-says-will-appeal-order/">Report in <i>Indian Express</i></a>