Prez, PM condole demise of 'young leader' Kalikho Pul

New Delhi, Aug. 9 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed shock at the sad demise of former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Pul. "Shocked to hear of untimely demise of promising young leader Kalikho Pul whose contributions shall always be remembered," said a message posted on Rashtrapati Bhavan's Twitter handle. Prime Minister Modi in his message said Pul's service to Arunachal Pradesh will be remembered. "My thoughts are with the family & supporters of Kalikho Pul on his sad demise. His service to Arunachal Pradesh will be remembered," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted. Pul was found dead at his residence in Itanagar this morning. Pul was the chief minister for around four months after the state was placed under President's Rule following a series of dramatic developments, which witnessed the Congress government being voted out by party rebels along with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In February, Pul was sworn-in as the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister with the support of 18 dissident Congress legislators, two independents and 11 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs who gave him outside support in the 60-member assembly. Nabam Tuki, who was earlier the chief minister, was dismissed following days of turmoil, after 21 of the 47 Congress MLAs - including Pul -rebelled against him. Arunachal Pradesh was placed under President's Rule on January 26. Last month, the Supreme Court ordered the restoration of the earlier Congress government in Arunachal. In a separate judgment, the apex court had also set aside the Assembly Deputy Speaker's order quashing the Speaker's decision to disqualify 14 rebel Congress MLAs on December 15, 2015. (ANI)