Rawat’s suo motu taking charge as Uttarakhand CM illegal, says BJP

“By taking charge suo motu as Uttarakhand chief minister, Rawat has created a constitutional crisis,” state BJP spokesperson Munna Singh Chauhan told reporters in the Dehradun.

Accusing ousted CM Harish Rawat of taking charge as chief minister in an “unconstitutional manner”, BJP said it’s illegal to assume office “suo motu” before the Uttarakhand high court order quashing the imposition of President’s rule in the state could reach the Centre and the governor of the state.

Harish Rawat held two cabinet meetings since Thursday evening after taking oath as Uttarakhand CM. He was ousted on Friday. (PTI)

“By taking charge suo motu as chief minister, Rawat has created a constitutional crisis,” state BJP spokesperson Munna Singh Chauhan told reporters in the state capital.

The high court order quashing President’s rule and reinstating the state government should have been implemented by the President, the Centre or the governor, he said.

He also objected to Rawat holding two cabinet meetings since Thursday evening saying it was illegal and in violation of democratic norms to convene the meetings before proving majority on April 29 as directed by the high court.

As assuming charge of chief minister suo motu is illegal so are the cabinet meetings chaired by him. And hence the decisions taken in the meetings null and void, Chauhan said.

He requested the Governor to instruct state’s chief secretary to ensure decisions taken by the cabinet at the last two meetings are not implemented.