U’khand floor test: Mayawati declares support for Congress

New Delhi: In a major boost to the Congress Party in Uttarakhand, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Tuesday said that they would vote in favour of the grand old party in the floor test, adding that the reports of deal with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are false.

“There is no deal with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The reports are false. Our party will vote in favour of the Congress in Uttarakhand,” BSP supremo Mayawati told the media.

Ousted chief minister Harish Rawat, earlier today said that he is sure that the Congress will pass the test with flying colours and claim back its power in the state.

Meanwhile, President’s rule has been temporarily lifted for two hours in Uttarakhand as proceedings for floor test began in the assembly.

During the two-hour-long special session from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the President’s rule will be kept in abeyance for a single agenda of vote of confidence.

The proceedings will be video-graphed and the result of the voting will be placed before the Supreme Court tomorrow in a sealed cover.

The Uttarakhand Assembly has 70 members, out of which 27 belongs to the Congress, excluding the nine rebels. The Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) has 28 members, while there are six from other parties.

Rawat will need at least 32 members for claiming his majority on the floor.

The rebel MLAs will not be allowed to participate in the floor test. The Supreme Court rejected their pleas yesterday after they moved the apex court against the Uttarakhand High Court’s decision dismissing their petition against the disqualification.

The apex court also said the voting will be overseen by Principal Secretary (Legislative Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs) in the state. (ANI)