Dissident Congress leader Kalikho Pul was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh late evening on Friday, reported The Indian Express . This comes after the Supreme Court on Thursday set aside its previous order to maintain status quo in the state Assembly. The Centre revoked President's Rule on Friday before the swearing in. Pul is a five-time MLA and has held the finance ministry from 2003 until 2007 in former Chief Minister Gegong Apang's ministry.

Pul, 46, has the support of 18 rebel Congress MLAs, as well as two Independents and 11 BJP MLAs who have given in writing to the Governor that they back him. Pul, along with his 31 MLAs had met Arunachal Governor JP Rajkhowa on Friday to stake claim to form the government. The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee said that the rebel MLAs were no longer members of the party.