Kalaikho Pul sworn in as Arunachal CM

Itanagar, Feb 19: Rebel Congress lawmaker Kalaikho Pul was on Friday sworn in as the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh after President's Rule was revoked in the state.

Pul, hailing from Hawai in Anjaw district of the northeastern border state, was finance minister in Chief Minister Gegong Apang's cabinet from 2003 until 2007.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa swore him the oath of office and secrecy at a brief function organised at the Raj Bhavan in the hilly state around 9.30 p.m.

The development came after President Pranab Mukherjee earlier in the day approved the recommendation of the union cabinet for revocation of the President's Rule.

BJP leader Tapir Gaon said that only Pul, who was elected as leader of the house by 31 legislators, took oath of office and secrecy.

The new chief minister will induct his ministers at a later date.

The BJP said it will lend support to the new government from outside only and will not be its part.

The Supreme court on Thursday paved the way for the formation of the new government by disposing of Congress leader Nabam Tuki's plea for an interim direction that his party be allowed to go for a floor test in the house and vacated its earlier order for maintenance of status quo.

On Monday, Pul and another 31 MLAs, including 18 Congress legislators, 11 of BJP and two Independents, met the governor and submitted a memorandum to stake claim to form the government.

The legislators reaffirmed their support to Pul to head the council of ministers and that he may be sworn in at the end of the President's Rule Arunachal Pradesh.

Political situation in the north-eastern state turned volatile after the governor advanced an assembly session from January 2016 to December 2015.

While the then chief minister Nabam Tuki and his supporters boycotted the session, the dissident Congress and BJP legislators, and two Independents, took part in the session held first at a community hall and then at a hotel.

The legislators impeached Speaker Nabam Rebia by a voice vote and moved a no- confidence motion against the chief minister, forcing both to move the Guwahati High Court and subsequently the Supreme Court.

IANS