'No confidence' motion 'adopted' against Tuki govt

In another controversial day of proceedings marked by high drama, Opposition BJP and rebel Congress MLAs got together to show "no confidence" in the Nabam Tuki-led Congress government in north-eastern state Arunachal Pradesh and to "choose" a rebel Congress MLA as the new "chief minister".

A day after they "impeached" Speaker Nabam Rebia in a make-shift "Assembly" premises in a community hall, the opposition and rebels Congress MLAs met at a conference hall of a hotel here on Thursday as the Assembly premises have been sealed since Wednesday.

On Thursday, a "no confidence" motion by 11 BJP MLAs and two Independent members was "adopted" with Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok, who is also a rebel Congressman, in the Chair.

A total 33 members of the 60-member house, including 20 dissident Congress MLAs, later "elected" another dissident Congressman Kalikho Pul as the new "chief minister" of the state.

The Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and his 26 supporting MLAs boycotted the proceedings terming them as "illegal and unconstitutional".

Thursday's "proceedings" were held a new venue as the make-shift premises where Speaker Nabam Rebia was 'impeached' last night was vandalised by miscreants and the MLAs opposing Tuki were not allowed to enter the Assembly premises by security forces.

As per directive of the Speaker, the district administration has sealed the Assembly premises since on Wednesday.

The MLAs then with "due consent" from Governor J P Rajkhowa shifted the venue to the conference hall of a in Naharlagun.

The "session", which was chaired by Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok passed the motion by voice vote and signature consent by 33 members in the absence of 26 Congress MLAs including Tuki and his council of ministers.

Thongdok announced Pul as the "new Leader of the House" and said that the "proceedings" would be sent to the Governor who would ask the new chief minister and his council of ministers to take the oath of office shortly.