The Congress party on Monday moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Union Cabinet's recommendation for President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh. Reports said that the President's rule was imposed in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday, a day after the Union Cabinet committee recommended the move during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Pranab Mukherjee reportedly signed the order late Sunday night.

Chief Minister Nabam Tuki tweeted: “This is really shocking as the Centre did not consult the state government before taking such a harsh decision.” Calling the move "politically motivated", Tuki also questioned why the process was hastened as several petitions related to the political crisis in the state are still pending in the Supreme Court. PTI reported that Tuki met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Monday.

The Cabinet’s move had provoked angry responses from Congress, which is in power in Arunachal Pradesh. The Congress has termed the move an act of "political intolerance", Hindustan Times reported. The state has been embroiled in a political crisis for several months. The Congress has been alleging that the Modi government is trying to oust the party in Arunachal Pradesh through Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa and Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs.

On December 16, a rebel group of Congress MLAs had joined the BJP legislators and moved to impeach Assembly Speaker and Congress leader Nabam Rebia. The proceedings took place at a makeshift venue with Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok of the BJP presiding, and was decried by the Congress as unconstitutional. With the situation spiralling out of control, the Supreme Court had ruled that no Assembly session could be convened in Arunachal Pradesh till January 18.

The imposition of president's rule in Arunachal Pradesh drew criticism from other leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.