“It is a homecoming after a temporary exile”, Ringu told IANS after the dramatic political development. Mithi then formed a breakaway unit called the Arunachal Congress (Mithi) and became the chief minister with 40 MLAs supporting him. Besides, there are 11 BJP MLAs.
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“PM Modi and BJP’s foul play on democracy has come a full circle”.
Congress general secretary incharge of Northeast CP Joshi, when contacted, said he was still in the process of seeking details from Arunachal Congress chief and would comment later. They will now be part of the NEDA, which is run by former Congress leader from Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The BJP denied it had anything to do with the political development.
Meanwhile, the BJP has held the central leadership of the Congress responsible for the party’s upset in the frontier state.
The NEDA convener however ruled out any immediate plans for the merger of PPA with the BJP.
As per news reports from Itanagar, Khandu will remain the chief minister of the new dispensation.
PPA is a regional party in Arunachal Pradesh and is seen as having “friendly ties” with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Some of the defectors told IANS that the change was brought about in the interest of the state. “The Centre is manipulating every state in the North-East – Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland -to toe its line”, said a party leader. “States can not run that way”.
“People’s Party of Arunachal Pradesh is a constituent of the NEDA”, he said.
This is the second time this year that the BJP is allegedly engineering a political turnaround in the state.
PPA is a constituent of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) which was formed on 24 May in Guwahati under KaliKho Pul.It is ironic that after the unfortunate death of Pul the MLA’s chose to leave the Congress said one observer.
Pul took over as Chief Minister in February with BJP’s support. “The Supreme Court also reinstated the Congress government but ultimately the MLAs’ decision is the final”, he said.
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Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said that they all have chose to join PPA.
