29 Facts About Kalikho Pul

Kalikho Pul was an Indian politician and former Chief Minister of the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh for a brief time in 2016.

Kalikho Pul was elected five times from the Hayuliang Vidhan Sabha constituency representing the Indian National Congress.

On 9 August 2016, Pul allegedly committed suicide by hanging at his official residence in Itanagar; Pul's supporters protested in Itanagar demanding an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Kalikho Pul was born on 20 July 1969 in the Walla village of Hawai, Anjaw district and belonged to the Kaman Mishmi ethnic group.

Kalikho Pul was 13 months old when his mother Koranlu died.

Kalikho Pul left school and when he was 10 years old joined a carpentry course at the Hawai Craft Centre where he earned 1.50 per day as stipend.

Kalikho Pul worked as a tutor there on temporary basis.

Kalikho Pul joined a night school on the advice of Mr Ram Naresh Prasad Sinha, the Headmaster of Hawai Middle School in the mid eighties.

Kalikho Pul later earned a living by opening a paan shop, making bamboo fences and thatched houses, and building concrete structures.

Kalikho Pul considered committing suicide by jumping over the bridge in River Lohit but said that he could not "take the extreme step due to the presence of people".

Kalikho Pul received financial help from Deputy Commissioner Negi and then completed his treatment.

Kalikho Pul had special interest in social service, community service and attending to poor and destitute persons.

Kalikho Pul contested the Hayuliang Vidhan Sabha constituency and won elections in 1995,1999,2004,2009 and 2014 contesting as an Indian National Congress candidate.

Kalikho Pul contested and won his first election in the year 1995 when he was elected as MLA from Hayuliang constituency and was made the Minister of State for Finance in the Mukut Mithi government.

Kalikho Pul was State Finance Minister under Chief Minister Gegong Apang from 2003 until 2007.

Kalikho Pul was made chairman of a high-powered committee and simultaneously adviser to the CM for about a year.

Kalikho Pul expressed concerns about opium addiction among youth and announced de-addiction centres in affected districts.

Kalikho Pul launched a community horti-farming project in Anjaw district, aimed at providing technical support and marketing assistance to farmers of products such as cardamom, kiwis, plums, apples and oranges.

Kalikho Pul called Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee's move foul as he was not even served a show cause notice and said that he was "punished for doing his job".

Kalikho Pul was the executive member of Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee for 13 years and Pradesh Election Committee member for 7 years.

In late 2015, Kalikho Pul broke away from the Congress party.

Kalikho Pul became the acting Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh on 19 February 2016, along with other rebel politicians of Congress.

Kalikho Pul's government was supported by the opposing Bharatiya Janata Party.

Kalikho Pul's body was discovered that morning hanging from the ceiling fan in the room where he practiced yoga.

Kalikho Pul allegedly committed suicide by hanging in the Chief Minister's bungalow at Itanagar which he still occupied while his home was under renovation.

Kalikho Pul is survived by three wives and four children.

Kalikho Pul's supporters assembled outside his residence and protested, demanding an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation into Kalikho Pul's death.

The suicide letter that was made public by Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Judicial Reforms, alleges that Kalikho Pul was approached by the son of Justice Khehar Singh for a bribe of 49 crores to get the decision in his favour.

The widow of Kalikho Pul approached the Vice President of India for an independent probe by a Special Investigation Team as the charges are against Supreme Court judges, including the former Chief Justice of India, Justice Khehar Singh.