We will file review petition in Supreme Court: Kalikho Pul

GUWAHATI: The People’s Party of Arunachal-BJP combine is confident that it has the numbers to prove the majority although the Supreme Court has restored the Nabam Tuki-led Congress government.

The Congress, on the other hand, has begun reaching out to its former party members. Unseated chief minister Kalikho Pul, who was in Guwahati on Wednesday, told ET: “We have shown the numbers to Governor JP Rajkhowa before taking over the government. We have proved our majority in the floor of the House. We will file review petition in the Supreme Court and will consult with the experts as what best can be done as the verdict involves turning the clock backward.”

Union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju said, “we respect the court’s verdict. We are a democratic country and anybody can approach the court. However Congress has to prove its majority on the floor of the House.”

When asked if the Centre would file a review petition, he said, “Why should we file review petition? The government acted on the basis of the governor’s report.”

Tuki, however, argued that the question of floor test has not come at all. “We were not reduced to minority so there is no question of floor test. I will reach Itanagar on Thursday.”

A senior Congress leader said that the party has started reaching out to a section of disgruntled leaders and asked them to come back to the Congress. “We are reaching out select leaders and are hopeful that they will come back to the Congress fold.”

The Supreme Court verdict restoring the Tuki ministry saw the entire national Opposition hitting out at the Modi government, accusing it of “misuse of power” and “transgression” of constitutional structure while BJP criticised the verdict wondering whether it strengthened or weakens democracy.