In a fast paced development, a BJP government was today installed in Arunachal Pradesh after 33, out of 43 Peoples' Party of Arunachal (PPA) MLAs led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, joined the saffron brigade in this politically fragile state.
Khandu paraded the MLAs before Assembly Speaker Tenzing Norbu Thongdok who accepted their joining.
The high-voltage political drama began since late Thursday night after PPA President Kahfa Bengia temporarily suspended Khandu, his deputy Chowna Mein and five legislators from the primary membership of the party for alleged anti-party activities.
The PPA, an alliance partner of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) government in the state, yesterday selected Takam Pario as the new chief minister of the state.
However, the political equation changed when majority of the PPA MLAs who initially extended support to Pario, later shifted their allegiance to Khandu.
The PPA today also suspended four other party MLAs including Honchun Ngandam, Bamang Felix, Punji Mara and Pani Taram.
"Lotus has finally bloomed in Arunachal. The people of the state will see a new dawn of development in the new year under the new government," Khandu told reporters in the Assembly premises.
Elaborating on the decision to merge with the BJP, the chief minister said that circumstances compelled the MLAs to take the decision in the interest of the people and the state.
"After several years of Congress misrule we observed that there was no visible development in the state. We joined the PPA with the intention to take the state to progress and prosperity, but there too, we find similar condition where the party president treated the MLAs undemocratically.
"So with focus on development, our MLAs decided to join the BJP for overall progress of the state," the chief minister said.
Terming the decision of the PPA president to suspend the MLAs as "undemocratic," Khandu said that before such a move the party leadership should have issued show cause notice to the MLAs.
"There was no significant development in the state since last year due to political turmoil, but now with NDA government at the Centre, the state will witness a sea change in the coming years," Khandu said adding, "the decision to join the BJP is a blessing in disguise for the people and the state."
"Until and unless there is stability in the government, no development could take place. There will be no more dissident politics and we shall now only focus on development," Khandu asserted.
When asked about the court case filed by Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Padi Richo against the joining of Congress MLAs with PPA which is pending with the Gauhati High court and which would be taken up on January 7 next, Khandu said that the joining was done in accordance to the Constitution.
Khandu said that he had written a letter to the state
governor for dropping of Takam Pario, Tanga Byaling and Rajesh Tacho from the council of ministers.
On allegation by PPA president that BJP hijacked its candidate Dasanglu Pul in November 19 bye-poll to Anjaw constituency, the chief minister denied the charge and said that after discussion with BJP and PPA before the election, Pul was selected as the consensus NEDA candidate from BJP ticket.
Responding to a query whether PPA would continue to remain as an alliance partner of the BJP-led NEDA, BJP state President Tapir Gao said that the matter would be discussed with NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma after he returned from Kenya on January 3 next.
When asked whether the party would welcome the remaining ten PPA MLAs if they desired to join, Khandu said that he had no authority to take any decision.
Khandu broke away from the Congress along with 42 lawmakers in September this year.
The border state has been struggling with political instability since last December when Congress dissidents revolted against former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.
After a series of dramatic developments, which included a special session held at a hotel to vote out the chief minister, Congress rebel Kalikho Pul became Chief Minister in February with the help of 11 BJP lawmakers.
The Congress moved the Supreme Court, which turned the clock back and restored Tuki's government. But Tuki was out within days as he did not enjoy a majority in the 60-member assembly.
Pul, who insisted that he should be reinstated as chief minister, was left alone at the last minute when the lawmakers supposedly backing him shifted their loyalties to Khandu.
Pul committed suicide in August and a month later, Khandu walked out of the Congress with 42 lawmakers and joined the PPA. With the new development, the strength of BJP legislators in the 60-member House rose to 47 MLAs including one associate member and an independent while, the PPA has ten MLAs and Congress three.
