Arunachal Guv takes reins of governance, assures security to MLAs

After the proclamation of President’s Rule, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa has assured MLAs that they will be provided security, which they are entitled to. The Governor convened a meeting of senior officers of the state and advised them to ensure that there was no law and order problem in the state.

Laws must be enforced in letter and spirit for safeguarding the interest of the public, the governor told the officials, including Chief Secretary Ramesh Negi, in the meeting on Tuesday evening, a Raj Bhawan release stated. 

Stressing on security coverage for former Chief Minister and ministers, Rajkhowa said that nobody should have any problem in this regard and all members of the state Assembly would get security cover as per entitlement.

Rebellion in Congress had precipitated a political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh after its 21 MLAs, up in arms against the then Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, joined hands with 11 of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and two independents to ‘impeach’ the then Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue, a move branded as “illegal and unconstitutional” by the Speaker. Twenty-seven MLAs in the 60-member Assembly, including Tuki and his ministerial colleagues, boycotted the proceedings. 

The rebels later “elected” another dissident Congressman Kalikho Pul as the new “chief minister” of the state. 

The Union Cabinet had recommended the imposition of President’s Rule in the state and the President gave his assent to it on Tuesday.