Kalikho Pul, the former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister and Congress rebel was found dead at his residence on Tuesday. He allegedly hanged himself.

ANI reported, Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed shock "at the untimely and tragic demise" of Kalikho Pul.

"I am really shocked, I don't know what extreme reasons lead to this," said Congress party member Ninong Ering.

"He was staying in CM's House, maybe loneliness crept into him. When your mind is empty, its a devils workshop. As per his (CM's) last conversation with him, he was positive about the state. He said he was sure people will choose him again," Ering said.

Pul was sworn in as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh in February, with the support of 18 dissident Congress lawmakers, 11 BJP lawmakers who gave him outside support in the 60-member Assembly and two independents.

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Nandini