Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Pul found dead
ITANAGAR: Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister and Congress rebel Kslikho Pul was found dead at his residence on Tuesday. He allegedly hanged himself.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed shock “at the untimely and tragic demise” of Kalikho Pul, ANI reported. “I am really shocked, I don’t know what extreme reasons lead to this,” said Congress party member Ninong Ering, to ANI.
“Shocked and deeply saddened at the untimely demise of Kalikho Pulji. My heart goes out to his family & loved ones”
Pul had been chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh for four-and-a-half months in early 2016, but had to resign in the wake of an adverse Supreme Court verdict in July 2016. “He was staying in CM’s House, maybe loneliness crept into him. When your mind is empty, its a devils workshop …As per his (CM’s) last conversation with him, he was positive about the state. He said he was sure people will choose him again,” Ering said.
In February, Pul was sworn in as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh with the support of 18 dissident Congress lawmakers, two independents and 11 BJP lawmakers who gave him outside support in the 60-member Assembly. Before that, Nabam Tuki was chief minister. He was dismissed following days of turmoil, after 21 of the 47 Congress MLAs – including Pul -rebelled against him. Arunachal Pradesh was placed under President’s Rule on January 26.
Last month, the Supreme Court ordered the restoration of the earlier Congress government in Arunachal. In a separate judgement, Justice Madan B Lokur also set aside the Assembly Deputy Speaker’s order quashing the Speaker’s decision to disqualify 14 rebel Congress MLAs on December 15 last year.
