Arunachal Congress elects new leader, to win floor test

Itanagar, July 16 (IANS) The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Arunachal Pradesh elected Pema Khandu as its new leader ahead of a floor test by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on Saturday.

Tuki, reinstated as the Chief Minister following a Supreme Court verdict on Wednesday, proposed the name of Khandu.

The proposal was supported by all the 44 legislators, including 15 Congress and 29 dissident Congress legislators who had joined the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) in February.

The 44 legislators also include former Chief Minister Kalikho Pul, who had unseated Tuki and became the Chief Minister in February.

After the return of the 30 PPP legislators to Congress on Saturday, the strength of the Congress has become 45, which includes the Speaker, Nabam Rebia.

The effective strength of the Arunachal Pradesh assembly is 58 as of now. The Congress is likely to win a floor test easily.

Governor Tathagata Roy reinstated Tuki as the Chief Minister following the Supreme Court judgment and asked him to take the floor test to prove his majority support.

Tuki urged the Governor to defer the session by 10 days but Roy refused.