Modi Government mulling Uttarakhand floor test

NEW DELHI: The Centre is “seriously considering” the Supreme Court’s “suggestion” to have a floor test in the Uttarakhand assembly, the government’s top law officer told the court on Wednesday, promising to revert on the issue on Friday.

However, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi left some critical questions unanswered when he said without elaborating that “both parties” will “go there and prove their majority”.

Ousted CM Harish Rawat, through senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, opposed this vehemently, insisting that the floor test could only be a confidence motion in support of the erstwhile CM.

On Wednesday, when a bench comprising justices Dipak Misra and Shivakirti Singh convened to hear the appeal, Rohatgi said that he had conveyed the court’s suggestion “in right earnest” and it was being “considered seriously” to end the controversy which has emerged in this case.

Rohatgi said that both parties will go there and prove majority, prompting senior advocates Rajeev Dhavan, Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi to protest against his statement. “The chief minister is dismissed and President’s rule is imposed. If President’s rule is lifted to call for a floor test, it has to be of the CM and not to see if the Opposition enjoys majority,” Sibal said.

Singhvi also insisted that the court clarify that the confidence vote would be that of the erstwhile CM.