Bijay Sankar Bora
Tribune News Service
Guwahati, December 31
The BJP has had the last laugh as a consequence of the latest power struggle within the ruling People’s Party of Arunachal Pradesh (PPA) with the saffron party forming a government of its own in the frontier hill state with Pema Khandu as the Chief Minister.
It became clear after Khandu today announced in Itanagar that he, along with 32 other PPA MLAs, had decided to join the BJP to make it a complete BJP (not BJP-supported) government in Arunachal Pradesh with the intention to bring about a stable government for the sake of facilitating rapid development of the hill state under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Khandu made the announcement in the presence of the Arunachal state BJP president Tapir Gao before the media in Itanagar. Gao said it would be now a BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh from the New Year and Pema Khandu would remain the Chief Minister of the state.
Khandu, along with six others MLAs, were temporarily suspended from the ruling PPA by its president Kahfa Bengia on charges of anti-party activities and hobnobbing with the BJP two days ago, creating a fresh political instability in the state.
In the wake of Khandu and 32 PPA MLA joining it, the strength of the BJP, which has 12 MLAs of its own, would increase to 45 in the 60-member House. Two Independent MLAs in the House will also extend support to the Khandu-led BJP government.
Elaborating on the decision to merge with the BJP, Khandu 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,” he said.
Unlock Exclusive Insights with The Tribune Premium
Take your experience further with Premium access.
Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only Benefits
Already a Member? Sign In Now
