Arunachal Pradesh crisis: 31 MLAs in tow, Kalikho Pul makes bid for chief ministerial berth

GUWAHATI: Dissident Congress leader Kalikho Pul has staked claim to form an alternate government in Arunachal Pradesh which is under president’s rule. Pul, accompanied by 31 other MLAs, which included 18 Congress rebels, 11 BJP and 2 independent MLAs met governor JP Rajkhowa in Raj Bhavan on Monday. The governor assured to examine the claim and consult legal experts.

He added that it was for the President to decide whether to lift central rule and to decide on reviving the assembly. The President is advised by the Union Council of Ministers in all such matters. A communique from Raj Bhavan said that a joint delegation of 32 MLAs led by Pul, along with the leader of Opposition, Tamiyo Taga, had called on the governor at Raj Bhavan. According to the statement, Chowna Mein along with CT Mein, Zingnu Namchoom, Wangki Lowang and Honchu Ngandam, who were with Tuki, submitted a letter o f support to Kalikho Pul. They reaffirmed "support to the leadership of Pul to be the head of the Council of Ministers that may be sworn in at the end of the President’s rule," according to the Raj Bhavan communique.

BJP leader Taga, who came along with the other 10 BJP MLAs, submitted a letter offering unconditional support to Pul. "In affirmation of this support to Kalikho Pul, we, the 11 members belonging to the BJP in the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, hereby sign this document and we urge you to kindly invite Kalikho Pul to form the government in the state as soon as the proclamation under Article 356 is revoked or whenever it ceases to operate," the BJP letter said.

Two independent MLAs also submitted a letter of support to Pul.

They affirmed their "support to Kalikho Pul to be the leader of the House and to be the next chief minister of the state whenever the Proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution that is currently operatives is revoked or ceases to be operative."