Congress set to lose power in Arunachal Pradesh

Only 1 of 45 Congress lawmakers remains in the party; rest of them including CM Pema Khandu, have joined the local People's Party of Arunachal

In a dramatic turn of events in the political landscape of the Northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, almost all the members of the ruling Congress party today chose to resign from the party and join People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA).

PPA is a constituent of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), which was formed in May in Guwahati in the presence of BJP president Amit Shah. Around 43 Congress legislators of Arunachal Pradesh, including Pema Khandu, the chief minister, have decided to join PPA today. Former chief minister Nabam Tuki however decided to stay back with the Congress.

The Congress legislators today met at the Assembly hall in the morning and took the decision to chart a new political course.

The state has been witnessing political turmoil since December last year when open rebellion broke out in Congress party against then chief minister Tuki. Rebel Congress leader Pul, claiming the support of majority MLAs, challenged the Tuki government. Later in January, the Centre imposed President’s rule in the state, which was lifted in February and Pul, along with rebel Congress MLAs formed the PPA and with the outside support of BJP formed the government in Itanagar.

However, the Supreme Court in July declared the Pul government unconstitutional thus paving its exit. The Congress again formed the government in July, but his time under the leadership of Khandu, who was a consensual choice and Pul too supported him and returned to Congress fold along with his group of legislators. Pul however committed suicide few days later in mysterious circumstance.  

Today’s development comes as a big set back to the Congress party as it again lost the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The party has 44 legislators in the current assembly of 60-members. The speaker of the Assembly accepted the merger of the Congress legislators with PPA.

“We have no role in these developments. Probably, the legislators are fed-up with the hollowness in Congress politics,” said Kiren Rijiju, Union minister of state from home affairs and a Lok Sabha from Arunachal Pradesh.

“I came to know this development only over phone from Pema Khandu. We welcome Khandu and new legislators to NEDA,” said Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, also convernor of NEDA. He however said the decision if the 11 BJP MLAs would join the new government would be taken by the party high command.