Uttarakhand CM asked to prove majority, rebel minister sacked

Dehradun, March 19 (IANS) Uttarakhand Governor K.K. Paul on Saturday asked Chief Minister Harish Rawat to prove his majority in the assembly while accepting his recommendation to dismis rebel minister Harak Singh Rawat.

Harak Singh Rawat held the agriculture portfolio.

Paul asked the chief minister to prove his majority in the assembly by March 28.

while Harish Rawat asserted he had a majority and would prove it on the floor of the house.

He also said that five of the rebel Congress legislators were in touch with him and in case, they regretted having revolted against the party, they might be pardoned by the high command.

In a swift political drama in the hill state on Friday evening, nine of the ruling party legislators had walked into the camp of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and demanded a vote division on the budget, a demand rejected by the speaker.

The Congress has accused the BJP national leadership of trying to topple the Congress government, a charge denied by the BJP which has sought the dismissal of the "minority" government.

Assembly polls are due in the state early next year.