Dissident Congress leaders stake claims to form govt in Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar: Dissident Congress leader Kalikho Pul has staked claim to form an alternate government in Arunachal Pradesh.

Pul, who claimed to be having support of 18 Congress MLAs,11 BJP MLAs and 2 Independents from the state, met Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa on Monday and submitted a letter of support to him, a statement from Raj Bhawan said.

Rajkhowa assured Pul to examine the claim and consult legal experts and mentioned that it would be decided by the President whether to lift central rule in the state and to decide on reviving the assembly. Meanwhile, the Governor would be forwarding the 'letter of support' submitted by Kalikho Pul with a note informing the latest developments to President Pranab Mukherjee anytime soon, reports said. 

Sources say that Pul had initially submitted a memorandum showing that he had support of 14 rebel Congress MLAs, following which Congress Minister Chowna Mein and four other Congress MLAs also submitted a memorandum announcing their support to Pul.

BJP's Tamiyo Taga, the Leader of Opposition in Arunachal, along with 10 BJP MLAs, also submitted a separate memorandum which stated their unconditional support to Pul.

Two Independent MLAs – Paknga Bage and Tsering Tashi also submitted a memorandum stating their backing to Pul. This move helped Pul have support of 32 MLAs, which is one more than the magic number of 31.

On January 26 this year, President's rule was imposed in Arunachal Pradesh after Union Cabinet recommended imposing central rule in the state following political instability and claimed failing of complete law and order.