Uttarakhand Governor asks CM Harish Rawat to prove majority by March 28

Dehradun: Uttarakhand Governor Krishna Kant Paul on Saturday asked Chief Minister Harish Rawat to prove  majority on the floor of the state Assembly by March 28 in the wake of the political crisis triggered by a rebellion in the ruling Congress.

In a letter to Rawat, the governor has asked him to prove his majority in the state Assembly by March 28, a top Raj Bhavan official said.

The letter has been dispatched to the Chief Minister who also has an appointment with the Governor this evening, he said.

The governor's directive is being viewed as a breather to Rawat government which is in the middle of a constitutional crisis with as many as nine party MLAs raising a banner of revolt against it and opposition BJP claiming that his government had been reduced to a minority in the assembly.

Accusing BJP of misrepresenting facts, Chief Minister Harish Rawat claimed earlier in the afternoon that he still enjoys a majority in the Uttarakhand Assembly and was ready to prove it on the floor of the House.

Read: Uttarakhand crisis: 26 BJP MLAs, 9 rebel Congress MLAs fly to Delhi

"Those who are saying they have support of 35 MLAs are misrepresenting facts. I am confident that I still have a majority in the Assembly and can prove it on the floor of the House," he told reporters after emerging from a meeting with Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal.

Read: Uttarakhand government in crisis as 9 MLAs rebel

"Around four to five rebel MLAs are in touch with us now and I am giving them a chance to accept their mistakes. Their conduct was wrong and if they won't accept it then action will be taken. So far, five of them have contacted me," Rawat said.

Adding that the Congress in the state was ready to prove majority in the House, he said that the ruckus created by the BJP after the adjournment was completely wrong and those who supported it were equally guilty.

Lashing out at the BJP leaders for 'misusing the central machinery', he stated that the Opposition was making desperate attempts to get rid of the Congress government in the state.

Read: Ready to present MLAs before President, says BJP

"Their schemes will fail for sure. I will prove my majority on the floor of the House. I am a democratic individual and the moment I lose my majority, I will offer my resignation. The BJP is flustered right now keeping 2019 in mind, which is why they are attacking our government," Rawat said.

Issuing a challenge to the rebel MLAs, he dared them to prove their majority in the House and not 'run' to New Delhi.

The Congress Government in Uttarakhand is presently in crisis as nine party MLAs, including a minister, joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party last night.

A three-member BJP delegation met the Uttarakhand Governor last night and demanded the dismissal of the Harish Rawat-led government while stating that it was in a minority. There have been claims and counter claims by both sides about enjoying a majority in the Assembly.

While BJP claims the support of 35 MLAs including nine rebel Congress legislators, Chief Minister Harish Rawat says he still enjoys a majority in the 70-member House as none of the so-called rebel MLAs has quit the party or the CLP.