President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday gave his assent to the imposition of central rule in Arunachal Pradesh, PTI reported. Mukherjee approved the Union Cabinet's recommendation following political instability in the state, according to the report. The president signed the proclamation two days after the Cabinet held an unscheduled meeting on Sunday to recommend that the northeastern state be brought under central rule.

Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said that his government will approach the Supreme Court against the order. He added that Arunachal Pradesh was a peaceful state, and questioned why other parties that are not in majority were trying to destabilise the government. "[The] people of Arunachal Pradesh are disappointed. We will fight the battle legally," he said.

The Congress, which is in power in Arunachal Pradesh, had moved the Supreme Court on Monday challenging the Union Cabinet's recommendation. The party termed the move an act of "political intolerance", Hindustan Times reported. Tuki had then called the move "politically motivated", saying the Centre did not consult the state government before taking "such a harsh decision".

The president's rule is imposed in a state whose constitutional machinery has failed. Arunachal Pradesh has been embroiled in a political crisis for several months. Itanagar has seen a series of escalating political standoffs over the last year. What started as dissidence within the Congress grew into a rift between the state government and the governor, who was seen as an emissary of the Centre.