Many believe Thursday's protests were a ploy to stop the dissident Congress group led by Kalikho Pul, which was planning to meet the Governor.
Protests over the ongoing political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh rocked state capital Itanagar on Thursday - till news came that the Supreme Court referred a bunch of petitions on the matter to a Constitution Bench.
In the afternoon, supporters of Chief Minister Nabam Tuki staged a blockade near the Raj Bhawan. Soon, thousands gathered, demanding immediate recall of Governor JP Rajkhowa.
As protesters blocked all the roads leading to Raj Bhawan, the administration imposed Section 144 of CrPC in the area.
Last month, Congress government lost a "no trust motion" passed by a group of rebel Congress and BJP lawmakers at an assembly session held from a hotel. Of the 47 Congress lawmakers in the 60-member assembly, Mr Tuki has the support of 26.
Mr Tuki has alleged that Governor Rajkhowa, acting as a "BJP agent", has helped the rebel Congress lawmakers in their bid to topple his government by convening the assembly session ahead of time.
Many believe Thursday's protests were a ploy to stop the dissident Congress group led by Kalikho Pul, which was planning to meet the Governor.
Mr Pul has the support of 21 Congress lawmakers, and the outside support of 11 BJP and 2 Independent lawmakers.
On January 14, the Gauhati High Court cancelled its earlier order keeping in abeyance the decisions made by the two-day Assembly session December 16-17, during which Speaker Nabam Rebia had been "impeached" as well.
The assembly sessions were held from impromptu venues after the government had sealed the assembly building. Mr Tuki had called the proceedings "unconstitutional".
Security sources said on Thursday, the picketers vacated the roads only after news came that the Supreme Court has referred the case to a five-member constitutional bench and order of the High Court has been put on hold till January 18.