The Uttarakhand high court will on Saturday hear a petition challenging the disqualification of nine dissident Congress MLAs from the assembly, bringing focus back on the rebel legislators who set off the ongoing political crisis in Uttarakhand.
The fate of the nine rebels – crucial to determining the majority in the assembly – hangs in the balance a day after the Supreme Court upheld their disqualification under the anti-defection law by Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal.
Read more | Uttarakhand crisis: Nine Congress rebel MLAs hold key
Eight of the nine rebel Congress legislators have moved the high court on two grounds – that they were not given enough time by the Speaker to respond to the charges, and that they were not provided ‘proof’ of their alleged anti-party activity.
In case the single bench of Justice UC Dhyani goes against them, the legislators will move a division bench of the court, former minister and Congress dissident, Harak Singh Rawat said.
Another rebel, former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna hinted they may also move the Supreme Court, which has the right to review high court decisions.
However sources say the rebel’s legal counsel may seek more time from the court, thus deferring the hearing.
{{/usCountry}}However sources say the rebel’s legal counsel may seek more time from the court, thus deferring the hearing.
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Conflict between the Congress and their legislators arose during a debate last month over the state budget. The rebels were further backed by the BJP, skewering the majority in the assembly and leading to President’s rule being imposed in the state.
In the number game, Congress will have the upper hand if the court upholds the Speaker’s move to disqualify MLAs. In the 70-member assembly, the Congress has 27 members excluding the nine legislators. Backed by the Progressive Democratic Alliance of six legislators, the Congress could easily prove majority on the floor of the house.