Itanagar, Aug 02: Ahead of the crucial trial of strength today, beleaguered Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Mukut Mithi asked the Governor to postpone the special assembly session in the wake of a petition challenging the Speaker`s order recognising the United Democratic Front of breakaway Congressmen. There was legal infirmity in speaker Tamiyo Taga`s order recognising the splinter group of 38 from the Congress Legislature Party as he has also signed as a defector along with others, he said urging governor V C Pande to put off the session pending the ruling of the Itanagar bench of Gauhati High Court on the Congress petition.

As the matter is sub-judice and the speaker`s order has no validity, the chief minister said, he has written to the Governor to postpone the assembly session.

Meanwhile, the Itanagar bench of the Gauhati High Court has directed the Congress to amend its plea after finding it technically faulty.

Justice H K K Singh of the single bench told the petitioner, health and family welfare minister Hari Notung, yesterday to file the petition afresh on Monday.
According to the petitioner, both Taga and his deputy Rajesh Tacho were among the dissident Congressmen, who had staked claim to form a new government under former chief minister Gegong Apang`s United Democratic Front, and therefore could not preside over the special session.

Following the writ by the Congress, the UDF has also filed a caveat stating that they be heard before final disposal of the petition.
Mithi`s Congress government was reduced to a minority on July 27 after 31 party MLAs broke ranks and formed the Congress d following which the Governor asked him to prove his strength at a special session which is scheduled this afternoon.


The breakaway Congressmen, together with two associates and an unattached member, claim the numbers are on there side in the 60-member house.
Bureau Report