Kalikho Pul new CM in Arunachal Pradesh as President’s Rule is lifted

After a two-month political battle, former finance minister and Congress leader Kalikho Pul was administered the oath of office as chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh on Friday.

Arunachal Pradesh governor J.P. Rajkhowa administered the oath to Mr Pul at Raj Bhavan in Itanagar. He took the oath alone. Legislators of both the Congress and BJP were present at Raj Bhavan during the swearing-in ceremony which started at about 10 pm.

The swearing-in took place soon after President Pranab Mukherjee approved the Union Cabinet’s recommendation for revocation of President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh. The President’s nod came after the Supreme Court on Friday rejected last-ditch efforts by deposed chief minister Nabam Tuki seeking an interim direction that his party be allowed to prove its majority on the floor of the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly. Earlier, the Union Cabinet had recommended the withdrawal of President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday after Mr Pul, accompanied by 31 MLAs, including 18 Congress rebels, 11 BJP MLAs and two Independents met the Arunachal Pradesh governor and staked claim to form a new government.