Cong rebels set to form govt with BJP support in Arunachal

The stage has been set for rebel Congress leaders in Arunachal Pradesh to form a new government after the Supreme Court on Thursday withdraw the status quo on the issue.

Interestingly, Congress rebel leader Kalikho Pul’s government will be backed by the BJP.

According to sources, all preparations have been made for a possible swearing-in of Pul as the chief minister. “The BJP legislators and the state unit of the party has decided to support Pul to form the next government in Arunachal Pradesh. It will be an unconditional outside support,” state BJP president Tai Tagak  told Deccan Herald over phone from Itanagar. If Pul and his supporters are invited to form a government, the entire Opposition will be Congressmen led by deposed chief minister Nabam Tuki’s camp with 26 MLAs.

The Supreme Court on Thursday said that a government can be formed in the state, where President’s Rule was imposed on January 26.

Till the time of filing this story, President Pranab Mukherjee had not issued notification to revoke the Central rule.

The Congress rebels have united under the leadership of Pul, former finance minister, who was dropped from the Tuki’s Cabinet in 2014. He was expelled from Congress in 2015, but he got back his party membership through a legal battle.