President’s Rule has been imposed in Uttarakhand a day before the crucial trust vote in the state assembly for the Harish Rawat government. The Cabinet had recommended the imposition of Central rule in the state last night following an hour-long emergency meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It received the formal nod from President Pranab Mukherjee. 

• The Government justified the imposition of President’s Rule saying the Harish Rawat government was “unconstitutional” and “immoral” since March 18, when the “failed” Appropriation Bill was shown as passed.
• The crisis in Uttarakhand had started earlier this month, after nine lawmakers of the ruling Congress, including former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, had rebelled against the Harish Rawat government.
• With the move coming weeks after President’s Rule was imposed in Arunachal Pradesh, the furious Congress alleged that the BJP was stooping to new lows.

The decision to disqualify them would have reduced the effective strength of the 70-member house to 61, giving the Congress 27 lawmakers. Along with support from six lawmakers of the Progressive Democratic Front, it would have got an effective strength of 33 — enough to win Monday’s trust vote. The opposition BJP had 28 legislators.