The crisis in Arunachal Pradesh deepened Wednesday after unprecedented scenes were witnessed in the state assembly over a motion to remove the Speaker and the role of the Governor in the entire episode.
Supporters of Congress Chief Minister Nabam Tuki — their count dwindled to 26 in a House of 60 after 21 MLAs rose in rebellion and were backed by 11 from the BJP and two independents — blocked entry to the assembly, calling the Governor’s decision to convene an early winter session “illegal” and “unconstitutional”. The 21 dissidents and 13 opposition members held a “session” at a community hall in Naharlagun instead of the Assembly Hall in Itanagar and “passed an impeachment motion” against Speaker Nabam Rebia.
Tuesday evening, two ministers allegedly threatened Governor J P Rajkhowa after he advanced the session to December 16, a month before it was to convene. The Governor was whisked away by securitymen.
Tuki and the Speaker described the Governor’s December 9 order to advance the session as “illegal” and “unconstitutional”. But Rajkhowa stuck to his position saying he had consulted legal experts before issuing the order. He was also said to have told Tuki and his ministers that they were free to take legal recourse.
After Tuki’s supporters blocked the assembly gates to prevent the removal of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker T N Thongdok presided over another session attended by Congress dissidents and Opposition MLAs where a resolution was passed for removal of the Speaker. “We went according to the order and message of the Governor which were issued as per the Constitution,” Thongdok said. Addressing a press conference later, Speaker Rebia said the session conducted by his deputy on the orders of the Governor was illegal. “I am still the Speaker,” he said.