In a major political crisis, 42 MLAs from the ruling Congress are set to join the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA). The exodus will leave Chief Minister (CM) Pema Khandu as the lone Congress member in the state Assembly and topple his two-month-old government.
Former CM and senior Congress leader Nabam Tuki has reportedly orchestrated the switch-over of legislators. There is speculation of CM Khandu crossing over to the regional party as well, The Indian Express reported quoting sources.
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Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for (MoS) Home Affairs, acknowledged the turn of events and said that the CM and MLAs have consciously decided to merge with the regional party and that BJP has nothing to do with this, reported ANI.
Congress shouldn't blame BJP for its own failure. If the CM and ministers have to wait for days to meet their own leadership in Delhi, how can they stay in such party?Kiren Rijiju, MoS to reporters
PPA is a part of the North-East Democratic Alliance, which was formed by BJP along with parties from the north-eastern states.
The political turmoil in the state puts the Congress government in a precarious position once again. In July, the SC had reinstated the Tuki-led Congress government in the state after a spell of President's Rule.
The order ended the brief tenure of the government led by rebel Congress leader Kalikho Pul, which had come to power in February. It had enjoyed the support of 18 rebel Congress MLAs and two Independents. Eleven BJP MLAs supported the Pul government from outside.
After the lifting of Central Rule, Tuki returned to the CM's post. However, Congress MLA Pema Khandu replaced the unpopular Tuki as CM.
The Khandu government passed the floor test in the Assembly. A total of 46 MLAs voted in favour of the Chief Minister, while 11 BJP members voted against it.
The Congress has 44 members in the 60-member Arunachal Assembly at present.
PPA, a regional political party, was founded in 1979. Late Chief Minister Pul, along with 25 other Congress legislators from the Tuki government, had joined PPA in February.
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