It is a rough time for the ruling BJP at the centre as the Harish Rawat’s petition challenging the imposition of President’s rule in the State of Uttarakhand. It is perhaps for the first time that a state under President’s rule would witness a trial of strength. But that the order will surely shock the BJP and comes as a setback to the Central government also has an element of relief for it. Court also allowed the nine disqualified rebel MLAs of the Congress to participate in the voting with a rider that their votes will be kept separate and will be subject to final outcome of the petition challenging their disqualification. But there were indications that this may not be the last word on the trial of strength as the centre may challenge the verdict before the division bench of the High Court and the Congress may also plead against the part of the judgment that deals with the disqualified MLAs. But it is inevitable to have house test as High Court floors BJP and its baptism.
Nickhil Ramani
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
