In a surprising development in the politics of Arunachal Pradesh, BJP on Friday joined the Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA)-led Government in the hilly State.
Arunachal Pradesh Governor V Shanmuganathan administered the oath of office and secrecy to BJP legislator Tamiyo Taga on Friday at a function organised at the Raj Bhavan in Itanagar, which was attended by the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues and top bureaucrats.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu dropped State Industry and Textiles Minister, Tapang Taloh to accommodate the BJP legislator in his Cabinet.
“Sometime one has to be dropped to accommodate another one. PPA is already a part of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the BJP led anti-Congress front in the region. I think the accommodation of the BJP legislator in the Cabinet will further strengthen our Cabinet to initiate development in Arunachal Pradesh,” Khandu said while interacting with newsmen after the ceremony.
Khandu, who had become the Chief Minister of the State in July this year, had recently visited the union capital recently and met several BJP top brass including party’s national president Amit Shah. Khandu requested the BJP to become a part of the Government for the sake of development in the hill State.
Prior to this, the BJP was only extending their support to the PPA Government in the State. While the PPA has 44 legislators in the House of 60, BJP has 11 members followed by three Congress members and two Independents.
The hill State had witnessed severe political turmoil in the recent past. While the then Chief Minister Nabam Tuki led Congress Government was toppled by dissident Congress leaders led by late Kalikho Pul. Although a Supreme Court verdict reinstated the Tuki led Congress Government in the State, the All India Congress Committee elected Pema Khandu as the ClP leader, paving way for Khandu to become the Chief Minister.
Khandu and all the 43 other Congress legislators later joined the Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) recently and BJP extended support to the government from outside.