Arunachal Pradesh crisis: Home Minister Rajnath Singh asked by Rashtrapati Bhavan to explain the need for President's Rule, say sources.

Arunachal Pradesh was placed under President's Rule after it was recommended by the cabinet in an unscheduled meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

President Pranab Mukherjee reportedly signed the order last night, at a time seniormost Supreme Court judges are hearing petitions linked to the political crisis in the state.

The development is expected to ignite a political storm with the Congress yesterday vowing to fight it "tooth and nail". Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said: "This is really shocking. The Centre did not consult the state government before taking such a harsh decision."

Sources say the government consulted the Attorney General and decided that the situation in the state needed central intervention.