New Delhi/Guwahati: The Supreme Court vacated its stay on Thursday on a new government being formed in Arunachal Pradesh after the Union Cabinet advised President Pranab Mukherjee to revoke Central rule in the state.
Within hours of the Cabinet’s decision on Wednesday, the Supreme Court had ordered the status quo and restrained the Arunachal Pradesh governor from taking steps to form a new government led by rebel Congressman Kalikho Pul.
On Thursday, after the SC’s go-ahead, reports from Itanagar, Arunachal’s capital, indicated that Mr Pul, a ex-state finance minister, might take the oath as the new CM as early as Friday. Though Raj Bhavan is yet to formally invite Mr Pul, sources said Raj Bhavan may call Mr Pul on Friday itself for the swearing-in.
Supreme Court clears way for new Arunachal government
Rebel Congress man Kalikho Pul is likely to take the oath of office alone as the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister.
Earlier, the ongoing legal battle of the ousted Nabam Tuki-led Congress government got a major setback on Thursday as the Supreme Court cleared the way for a new government after it was “satisfied” with the Gauhati high court order staying the disqualification of 14 rebel MLAs.
The Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the decks for the revocation of President’s Rule, that was imposed on January 26, as it vacated its own order of status quo that it passed on Wednesday.
The Centre had Wednesday held back its decision to revoke President’s Rule in the wake of the court’s order.
The 60-member Assembly now has 58 MLAs, with two MLAs having resigned. Though the Speaker disqualified 14 rebel Congress MLAs, the Gauhati high court stayed the disqualification and the Supreme Court refused to stay the order during the hearing of appeals.
