The Supreme Court on Thursday vacated its stay order from the previous day on revoking President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh, paving the way for a new government to be formed, possibly under dissident Congress leader Kalikho Pul. The court on Wednesday had asked that the status quo be maintained till the bench examined records relating to the disqualification of 14 rebel Congress MLAs in the state. The Apex Court observed that the MLAs had been barred without being served notice, and refused to intervene in a decision by the Gauhati High Court to stay their disqualification.

The Congress, which has been facing a mutiny from some of its leaders in the state, had approached the court asking for status quo to be maintained in the state till their plea against Governor JP Rajkhowa swearing in a new government was decided. The Congress wanted President’s Rule to be maintained in the state, though on Wednesday, the Cabinet approved revoking it. Last week, Pul, who was one of the disqualified MLAs, had staked his claim to form the government.

The state has been at the centre of political tumult, after several Congress leaders turned against the party and joined BJP MLAs to oust the Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia. The Speaker and Chief Minister Nabam Tuki (pictured above) had said the move was unconstitutional. The Congress has been alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to destabilise its government in the state through Rajkhowa.