Congress challenges Uttarakhand HC order allowing 9 disqualified MLAs to participate in floor test

Dehradun: The ruling Congress on Wednesday challenged the Uttarakhand High Court ruling allowing nine of its rebel MLAs to take part in a floor test in the state assembly on March 31, said media reports.

The ruling Congress party believes that the high court ruling has created more confusion and added to the chaotic political situation in the state.

Irreparable damage will be done if rebels vote in Uttarakhand floor test, said Congress.

Separately counting and allowing 9 MLAs to vote is an error, we may take legal recourse, Abhishek Singhvi, counsel for Harish Rawat told reporters.

The Congress, in its petition, has challenged the permission given to the disqualified party MLAs to take part in the trust vote, though the court has ruled their votes will be kept separate and will be subject to final outcome of the petition challenging their disqualification.

Meanwhile, the central government has decided to challenge today the Nainital High Court order allowing Congress government in the state to prove its majority in the assembly on Thursday despite President's Rule.

Attorney General of India Mukul Rohtagi will argue for Centre in Nainital High Court before the double bench.

As per ANI, Congress and Centre's petitions are likely to come up for hearing before a double bench at 12 pm today.

The Uttarakhand High Court had on Tuesday directed the Chief Minister to take floor test on March 31.

The HC order came as a jolt to the Centre as it gave a new turn to the political developments two days after President's Rule was imposed in the state.

Ousted Chief Minister Harish Rawat welcomed the order, saying it was a "tremendous setback" for the Centre which was trying to bring "authoritarianism". But this order would deter them from trying to destabilise non-BJP governments in states, he said.

There was no clarity on whether by ordering the floor test the President's Rule imposed on Sunday is stayed and whether the dismissed Harish Rawat government has been restored, PTI reported.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi had appeared for Rawat who had challenged the imposition of President's Rule and demanded its immediate quashing.