Chautala seeks trust vote

CHANDIGARH, JULY 27: Haryana Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala today sought a vote of confidence of the House, two days after being sworn in as the chief minister. With acrimonious scenes dominating the proceedings, Chautala moved the confidence motion which was opposed strongly by Congress legislators, who stated that only a council of minister could seek confidence of the House and not merely the chief minister.

Chautala seemed comfortably placed with his 22 MLAs being supported by the BJP and the Haryana Vikas Party Democratic, taking its tally to 53 in the 90-member house. The House which began after paying homage to the Kargil martyrs, and after the resignation of the Speaker Chhattar Singh Chauhan immediately witnessed noisy scenes when Chautala moved the one line motion, 8220;that the House reposes its confidence in the chief minister enjoying the support of the majority of its membersquot;.

Congress MLAs led by Khurshid Ahmed, Randeep Singh Surjewala and Birender Singh took the plea that in the absence of a proper council of ministers, the confidence motion was unconstitutional.

They argued that under Article 163 of the Constitution, there has to be a council of ministers to quot;aid and advisequot; the Governor. However, Chautala was seeking a vote of confidence as the chief minister, when no council of ministers had been formed.