U'khand floor test: Cong may take legal recourse for allowing nine MLAs to vote

Pointing out that separately counting or allowing the nine rebel Congress MLAs to vote is an error, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Wednesday said the party might take legal recourse in the matter.

"Separately counting or allowing the nine MLAs to vote is an error and we may take legal recourse. The rest of the order is recognition of the Central Government's methodology to try and short circuit the floor test, the vote of confidence and the Speaker's adjudication," Singhvi told ANI.

Singhvi further stated that as the President's rule in Uttarakhand was not accepted at all prima facie in the interim order of the court, it was virtually a legal slap on the face of the Central Government.

"However, both sides of legal records ultimate word will come from the division bench. The more ultimate word will come from the Supreme Court. So, we are consciously subjudiced, but we will all stake our respective stands," he added.

In a jolt to the Centre, the Uttarakhand High Court yesterday ordered a floor test in the Assembly on March 31, giving a new turn to the political developments two days after President's Rule was imposed in the state.

All MLAs, including the nine ruling Congress rebels, can participate in the trial of strength but the votes of the disqualified legislators will be kept separate, the court ruled.

The Centre reacted strongly to the court's order on floor test in assembly and said no court can stay President's Rule as an interim measure.

Stating that no court can order floor test while President's rule is in force in a state, the Centre announced to challenge the single-bench decision in a division bench of the High Court.

Welcoming the decision, former chief minister Harish Rawat said it was a lesson for those who want to destabilize the government.