New Delhi:
After being governed by the Congress for several years, Arunachal Pradesh is likely to have a new government as early as tomorrow.
The Supreme Court today said that a government can be formed in the North Eastern state, where President's Rule was introduced last month amid protests by the Congress.
The oath ceremony could be held tomorrow morning around 9.30 and the President's approval is expected tonight, sources told NDTV.
Arunachal Pradesh has 58 seats. The Congress, which had 47 members, has virtually split down the middle after months of infighting; 20 rebels have teamed up with the BJP, the main opposition party in the state, and a pair of independents.
The Congress alleges that the BJP has used its power at the Centre to destabilise the Arunachal government of Nabam Tuki.
To form the government, the claimant must have 28 seats.
The key to who forms the government lies in whether the Gauhati High Court finds that 14 Congress dissidents were wrongly declared disqualified from the legislature in December by the Speaker. The Supreme Court today refused to weigh in, saying the decision lies entirely with the High Court.
The Congress rebels have united under the leadership of former Finance Minister Kalikho Pul, who was expelled from the Congress last year. Yesterday, he told Governor JP Rajkohwa that with the BJP and two independents, he has 32 legislators on his side.
Late last month, the Centre said Arunachal Pradesh had plummeted into a constitutional crisis and lawlessness.
In December, rebel Congressmen and BJP legislators voted that Mr Pul should be made Chief Minister at an assembly session endorsed by the Governor.
The Congress said that session was illegal, because it was abruptly advanced by a month by the Governor. But the Governor said he had no choice because the state legislature had not met in over six months in violation of a constitutional requirement.
Before that session began, the Speaker, Nabam Rebia, said 14 Congress rebels were disqualified from the Assembly, a decision they challenged in the High Court, which froze the action against them till it delivers its verdict.