Arunachal PCC urges Governor not to entertain rival claim for Congress Legislature Party

ITANAGAR: With the Supreme Court paving the way for government formation in Arunachal Pradesh, the state Congress today urged Governor J P Rajkhowa not to entertain any claim by any rebel MLA to be the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader.

Arunachal PCC (APCC) president Padi Richo in a memorandum submitted to the governor, requested him to "refrain" from inviting the dissident group to form the next government, saying it would be "against the Constitution".

The memorandum, a copy of which was made available to the media, said, dissident leader Kalikho Pul is not the CLP leader, and hence his staking a claim to form Congress government with the support of 11 BJP MLAs and two Independents stand "invalid".

"Nabam Tuki is the democratically-elected CLP leader since May 18, 2014 and no change has taken place in the CLP so far," the memorandum said.

It said 21 MLAs boycotted several CLP meetings, while two -- Gabriel Denang Wangsu and Wanglin Sawin -- resigned from the Assembly which was accepted by the Speaker on September 30 and was notified the next day, October 1 last year.

"The Gauhati High Court and the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Speaker and two seats became vacant from October 1 last," the memorandum said.

It also highlighted that out of the total 45 Congress MLAs, 19 members had expressed their interest in changing the leadership but the majority of 26 MLAs firmly reiterated their choice for Tuki.

"14 dissident MLAs out of total 19 were disqualified from the membership of the CLP of December 15 last and they cannot claim as members of the Congress anymore.

The remaining five members who are not disqualified are bound to follow the majority and abide by the majority decision," the memorandum added.