14 Congress MLAs’ membership restored in Arunachal Pradesh

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati HC on Tuesday suspended the disqualification of 14 dissident Congress MLAs in the Arunachal Pradesh. The matter is posted for next hearing on January 7.

Speaker Nabam Rebia on December 15 last year disqualified 14 MLAs dissident from the membership of the house. These MLAs then filed a writ petition in the High Court.

These MLAs belonged to Kalikho Pul camp, which is opposed to the leadership of the CM Nabam Tuki. Senior Advocate who appeared for the MLAs told ET: “Single bench presided over by Justice BK Sharma admitted the writ petition and as an interim measure suspended the disqualification of the 14 MLAs passed by the Speaker. The matter has been posted for further hearing in January 7. The speaker has been asked by the court to be ready with records and replies.”

A political crisis was triggered in Arunachal Pradesh in December with 21 of the 47 Congress MLAs in the 60-member house, along with 11 BJP and two Independent MLAs, extending support to dissident Congress leader Kalikho Pul.

Pul was elected the ‘chief minister’ in a session, advanced by Governor J P Rajkhowa to December 16 from January 14, and held in makeshift premises.

Rebia had then filed a petition challenging the governor’s notification of December 9 advancing the assembly session and also the notification issued by Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thondok revoking the suspension of 14 MLAs.