Kalikho Pul sworn in as new chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh Friday February 19,2016

Dissident Congress leader Kalikho Pul has been sworn in as the ninth chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh. He was administered the oath by governor KP Rajkhowa at a ceremony at the Raj Bhawan in Itanagar.

Pul now heads a government that has the support from 11 BJP MLAs from outside and two independents, who are likely to be part of the government, even as the speculations are rife about possibility of dissolution of the assembly by the newly elected government to make way for fresh elections in the frontier state

A former finance and health minister of the state, 47-year-old Pul represents the Hayuliang assembly constituency was elected as the leader of the house and the chief minister by the rebel Congress MLAs, BJP MLAs and two independents in the assembly session, which had been held at an auditorium as a make-shift venue on December 17,2015

The session was boycotted by supporters of former chief minister Nabam Tuki of the Congress, after whose ouster President's Rule had been imposed.


The fast-pace developments since the Supreme Court vacated its order on maintaining status quo in the state paving the way for installation of new government on Thursday Feb 18,2016 saw Nabam Tuki make one last effort to stop the rebel members from forming the government with BJP's support, when he moved the apex court seeking an interim direction that his party be allowed to go for a floor test in the assembly on Friday.
Nabam Tuki's prayer was rejected by the court.