Uttarakhand is closely following on Arunachal Pradesh’s heels. The unfolding coup d’etat in the state has lead to the imposition of President’s rule and heavy deployment of security.

It started on March 18 when nine Congress Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) decided to deflect to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s side and the opposition moved a no-confidence motion against Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwa claiming that he had failed to conduct the proceedings in the House impartially.

As things stand now, former Union Culture Secretary Ravindra Singh and former Director General of CRPF Prakash Mishra have been appointed as advisers to Governor KK Paul.

So, as the gloves are off in the northern state and a heated season of political maneuvering ensues, we bring you a little backgrounder on the nine rebels-with-some-cause of Uttarakhand.

1) Harak Singh Rawat, MLA, Rudraprayag

Rawat lost his position as Cabinet Minister (Agriculture, Medical Education and Soldier Welfare) after his decision to go against the government.

In 2003, Rawat had to resign following a controversy around him fathering the child of an “unwed mother”. The Central Bureau of Investigation took cognisance of it and filed a rape case against him. However, CBI report later found that the child’s DNA did not match Rawat’s.

In 2013, Rawat was involved in a controversy where the opposition, BJP, demanded his removal from the Assembly for holding three offices of profit apart from being a Cabinet minister.

In 2014, again, BJP demanded Rawat’s resignation for a registered case of molestation and criminal intimidation by a woman based in Delhi. Clearly, all is forgotten and Rawat is more than welcome in BJP today.

2) Vijay Bahuguna, former CM, Uttarakhand

Bahuguna was the CM of Uttarakhand till 2014, when he had to resign after the floods in the state. The Uttarakhand government came under severe criticism from various quarters for not being able to handle the disaster properly.

His son, Saket Bahuguna, was expelled from Congress party for six years for “anti-party” activities on March 21.

In 2013, Bahuguna was severely criticised and accused by the BJP of an alleged land scam.

3) Amrita Rawat, MLA Ramnagar

The MLA is the wife of Satpal Maharaj, a top political/spiritual gun. While wife Amrita is a Congress member, Satpal Maharaj snapped ties with Congress in 2014 to join BJP.

Apart from her political duties, she also renders spiritual guidance at her husband’s ashram, Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti.

According to sources, Rawat was removed from the position of tourism minister in 2014 by CM Harish Rawat since she was considered close to former CM Vijay Bahuguna.

4) Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion, MLA, Khanpur

The former weightlifter (hence Champion) has won three consecutive state elections. He has a graduate degree from Graduate DAV PG Colege, Meerut University.

A firearms and automobile enthusiast, Champion is royalty too. He is a descendent of Ramdayal Singh Panwar of the erstwhile kingdom of Landhaura.

In 2013, the Congress MLA was involved in a gun-firing case at the residence of Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat.

In 2015, a clash between the MLA’s supporters and villagers of Bishanpur Kundi left three injured.

There have been two cases against Champion that included charges of rioting, wrongful restraint and voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty. Of the two cases, he was convicted in an arms case in 2008.

5) Shaila Rani Rawat, MLA Kedarnath

Known as a disciple of Satpal Maharaj, Rawat is a teacher-turned-politician. In 2014, she was named in an FIR in Rudraprayag for abetting the suicide of an Uttarakhand flood survivor.

Her constituency suffered major damage during the 2013 floods. Her reason for being disgruntled with Harish Rawat and the government is the unsatisfactory rehabilitation process following the disaster.

6) Pradeep Batra, MLA, Roorkee

Batra is a first-time MLA and quite popular in his constituency.

However, given the sizeable Muslim population of Roorkee, it is being claimed that many are not happy with his decision to move to the BJP.

He has had three cases against him with charges ranging from rioting, criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation.

Batra is the owner of a famous sweet shop in Roorkee called Batra Sweets. He also runs educational institutes in the state.

7) Subodh Uniyal, MLA Narendra Nagar

Uniyal is a lawyer by profession. He is considered close to Vijay Bahuguna and Harak Singh Rawat.

After he went against the Congress government, his brother, Umakant Uniyal was removed from the post of State Advocate General on March 19.

Sources claim that Uniyal had been disgruntled with Harish Rawat. He was promised a ministry before he became the CM, but never got one.

8) Shailendra Mohan Singhal, MLA Jaspur

A doctor by profession, Singhal started his political career as an independent candidate in 2002, when he won the Jaspur constituency. He later joined Congress. He has been winning as a Congress candidate since the last two elections.

9) Umesh Sharma, MLA, Raipur

Sharma is a first-time MLA from Raipur. He is a farmer and real estate dealer by profession. Sharma had a dry spell in elections twice as an independent candidate, before he came under Congress’ wing.

Before being an MLA, Sharma had been a Zila Panchayat Pradhan.