In a major blow to People Party of Arunachal (PPA) its MLA Kameng Dolo, who is the longest serving lawmaker in the state and among the 11 elected unopposed in the 2014 assembly, has lost his seat.
The Arunachal Pradesh assembly in an order yesterday had notified that Dolo, MLA from Pakke-Kessang, ceased to be member of the house and the seat has fallen vacant.
Dolo's opponent Atum Welly alleging that his candidature was withdrawn fraudulently resulting in Dolo's unopposed election had moved Gauhati High Court challenging his election. The court had given its verdict against Dolo on February 8.
Dolo had won the seat unopposed with a Congress ticket while Welly was his BJP contestant.
Dolo had moved Supreme Court to stay the High Court order but the apex court rejected his petition.
Dolo, who became the first Opposition leader as a BJP member and served as deputy chief minister twice, had been elected to the assembly seven times.
With Dolo's seat falling vacant, the PPA now has 9 members in the house of 60 with 47 BJP MLAs, two independents and a lone Congress legislator.
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