The already uneasy tie between the Janata Dal(U) and the BJP hit a new low with the saffron party poaching six MLAs of its ally in Arunachal Pradesh.
The development comes a day ahead of the announcement of the panchayat and municipal polls’ results in Arunachal Pradesh.
The lone MLA from the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA), Kardo Nyigyor from Likabali constituency, has also joined the BJP. The PPA MLA was also suspended by the regional outfit earlier this month.
JD(U) MLAs who switched sides are Talem Taboh from Rumgong Assembly Constituency, Hayeng Mangfi (Chayang Tajo), Jikke Tako (Tali), Dorjee Wangdi Kharma (Kalaktang), Dongru Siongju (Bomdila) and Kanggong Taku from Mariyang-Geku constituency, according to a bulletin issued by the State Legislative Assembly.
On November 26, the JD(U) had issued show-cause notices to Siongju, Kharma and Taku for “anti-party” activities, and suspended them.
The six JD(U) MLAs had earlier elected Talem Taboh as the new Legislature Party leader allegedly without the knowledge of senior party members.
“We have accepted their letters conveying the intention to join the party,” BJP’s Arunachal Pradesh president BR Waghe said.
The JD(U), led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, won seven of the 15 seats it contested in the 2019 Assembly elections and emerged as the second-largest party after the BJP, which had bagged 41 seats.
Following the switchover, the BJP now has 48 MLAs in the 60-member House, while the JD(U) is left with only one.
Congress and the National People’s Party (NPP) have four members each.
Nitish Kumar refused to comment on the development when he was approached by media persons in Patna.