2016 Arunachal Political Crisis - Nabam Tuki Resigns As Congress Legislative Party Chief; Pema Khandu Takes Over

 

Pema Khandu chosen leader of Congress party in Arunachal Pradesh

Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has stepped down as the leader of the Congress in the Arunachal Pradesh assembly in a strategic move hours before he was to seek a Trust Vote in the house to test the strength of his government.

Pema Khandu(36)the son of a former chief minister, has been elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party or CLP in Nabam Tuki's place.

About 20 of 30 party lawmakers who had rebelled against Nabam Tuki's leadership are said to be ready to return to the party under Pema  Khandu.

If they do, the Congress will be home free with 35 of Arunachal's 60 MLAs, a clear majority. In next steps then, Nabam Tuki will resign formally as Chief Minister and Pema Khandu will stake claim to form government.

At a meeting of Congress MLAs now on in state capital Itanagar, dissident leader Kalikho Pul is present.

After rebelling against Nabam Tuki and pulling his government down, Kalikho Pul had taken over as chief minister in February, supported by the other Congress rebels and the BJP.

On Wednesday July 13,2016, the Supreme Court ruled that the decision to place Arunachal Pradesh under President's Rule early this year was illegal and set the clock back to December 15 when Mr Tuki headed the government. It also ordered the removal of Kalikho Pul.

Nabam Tuki had to prove that he had the numbers to remain chief minister and till Friday evening July 15,2016 was scrambling to gather support for the Trust Vote he was ordered to seek by Governor Tataghat Ray today.  His request for more time was turned down.

20 Congress rebels meanwhile sent the message that they would be happy to return to the party if it effected a change in leadership.

 

About Pema Khandu

Son of late Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who died in a chopper crash in 2011, the 37-year-old graduate from Delhi’s prestigious Hindu College had an early entry into governance after his father’s demise

Pema Khandu, who hails from Tawang, bordering China, first entered the Arunachal Pradesh assembly in 2011 to fill the vacancy caused by his father’s death.

His election as MLA from Mukto (ST) constituency was uncontested and he was soon included in the state government as Cabinet Minister for Water Resource Development and Tourism.

Pema Khandu was re-elected unopposed from Mukto in the 2014 assembly elections.

Pema Khandu had joined the Congress in early 2000 and became Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee in 2005 and President of Tawang District Congress Committee in 2010.

 

Timeline of Arunachal Pradesh Political Crisis

December 24, 2014: Health and Family Welfare Minister Kalikho Pul dropped from ministry after he alleges fiscal mismanagement in Arunachal Pradesh

April 2, 2015: State Congress expels Pul for alleged anti-party activities.
May 18, 2015: Local court in Itanagar stays Pul's expulsion.
September 16, 2015: Chief Minister Nabam Tuki invites his MLAs to dinner and makes them sign 'irrevocable resignation letters' in the wake of dissidence.
October 6, 2015: Two MLAs who attended dinner 'quit' but ask speaker Nabam Rebia to treat 'resignation letter as invalid' as they were forced to sign it.
November 8, 2015: Led by Pul, 21 Congress MLAs issue statement against "autocratic" Tuki and denounce his "legitimacy as leader of CLP".
November 19, 2015: State BJP adopts resolution for removal of Rebia as Speaker.
December 10, 2015: Governor JP Rajkhowa issues order advancing the Assembly session from January 14-16,2016 to December 16-18,2015.
December 15, 2015: Rebia issues notice disqualifying 14 of the 21 rebel Congress MLAs.
December 16, 2015: Government locks Assembly building but deputy speaker TN Thongdok holds session in community hall for 33 MLAs, including 11 of BJP and two independents, to impeach Rebia as pro-Tuki groups disrupt normal life.
December 17, 2015: Rebels hold Assembly in hotel after community hall is razed, vote against Tuki; elect Pul as 'CM'. Rebia moves HC to keep assembly and related developments in abeyance.
January 5, 2016: HC stays disqualification of 14 Congress MLAs.
January 13, 2016: HC rules in favour of dissidents, vacating order that kept December 16-18 Assembly session in abeyance.
January 13, 2016: SC stays convening of Assembly session till January 18.
January 14, 2016: SC refers all the petitions to a Constitution bench.
January 15, 2016: SC starts examining the constitutional position on the scope of discretionary powers of the Governor and other related issues.
January 24, 2016: Union Cabinet recommends imposition of President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh.

January 25, 2016: Congress moves SC against the NDA government's move.

January 26, 2016: President Pranab Mukherjee accepts the Cabinet's recommendation.
January 27, 2016: SC issues notice to Centre, Governor on Congress's petition. The hearing scheduled for February 1.
February 17, 2016: Union Cabinet decides to recommend revocation of President Rule; but SC order status quo.
February 18, 2016: SC clears decks for formation of new government by vacating the status quo order.
February 22, 2016: SC reserves orders against a Gauhati High Court verdict that upheld the discretionary powers of the Governor to summon or advance a sitting of the assembly.
July 13, 2016: The Supreme Court orders the restoration of the Congress government, scrapping all decisions by the Governor that precipitated the fall of the previous administration.