Uttarakhand crisis: Harish Rawat 'welcomes' SC verdict

"I welcome the decision given by the Supreme Court," Rawat told reporters after the order was given by the Supreme Court.

"The verdict has healed the wounds inflicted from defections," he said.

In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Monday declined to give  interim relief to nine Uttarakhand rebel Congress MLA.

The decision is likely to be an advantage for former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, according to political experts,

The court rejected the nine lawmakers' plea over their disqualification.

They will not be able to participate in the trust vote which Harish Rawat will seek in the Uttarakhand assembly on Tuesday.

The  Uttarakhand High Court earlier said the nine nine rebel Congressmen remain disqualified and turned down their plea to participate inTuesday's confidence vote, reports said.

The rebel MLAs moved the apex court as they challenged the High Court's order.

Meanwhile, everything is not well for Rawat who confronted  new accusations barely a day before the vote of confidence.

A sting video allegedly shows  Rawat's close aide discussing bribes offered to Congress lawmakers.

This is the second time that charges have been made against Rawat and his associates for trying to  buy support for the Congress to stay in power.

The CBI is investigating an earlier video that claimed to show the former chief minister trying to bribe Congress dissidents to return to the party fold.

The CBI has summoned  Rawat for questioning on Monday. But he has  requested that he be exempted so that he can remain in Dehradun till after Tuesday's  trust vote in the state assembly.