BJP legislators meet President over Uttarakhand political crisis

A delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders requested President Pranab Mukherjee at a meeting Monday to give orders to Uttarakhand governor to dissolve the government. Uttarakhand is reeling under a political crisis as nine legislators have rebelled against the Chief Minister Harish Rawat-led government.

"We have requested the President to direct the Governor to dismiss Uttarakhand Government. We have also asked the President to direct the Governor to give us time to prove our majority on the floor of the house," the Indian Express quoted BJP general secretary Vijayvargiya as saying.

The Congress too held a meeting with the President and informed him about the political crisis in the state, accusing the BJP of trying to destabilise the state government.

"We apprised President of situation in Uttarakhand and how BJP with help of Centre trying to destabilize Congress governments. Also requested the President that as per Governor's earlier decision CM should be allowed to prove majority on 28th March," Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said.

Earlier Monday, the Congress expelled former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna's son Saket and party joint secretary Anil Gupta for six years for rebelling against the Rawat government. It has expelled a total of nine MLAs for going against the government, according to Indo-Asian News Service. 

"The Congress disciplinary action committee recommended to the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) that Saket and Anil should be expelled for anti-party activities. We accepted the recommendation of the disciplinary committee and expelled them for six years," state Congress chief Kishore Upadhyay told IANS.

"The disciplinary committee recommended that Saket was the mastermind of the whole crisis in Uttarakhand and must be expelled. The Congress party had given him Lok Sabha tickets twice. But he indulged in such indiscipline," Upadhyay added.

The rebel campaign is being headed by Vijay Bahuguna who voted against the Rawat government in the assembly Friday, Press Trust of India reported. 

The nine rebel Congress legislators have threatened to form a government in the state with the support of the BJP, according to the Hindustan Times. 

"We are all set to form government. There is no question of joining the Congress camp and if Congress wants, it can extend support to us. We were seeking time from the top brass since last 2 years and none responded and now suddenly everyone wants to speak to us," Sharma told the HT.

In the house of 70, the BJP claimed to have support of 36 MLAs, including the nine rebel MLAs.