GUWAHATI: The BJP, whom the Congress had accused of dislodging the democratically-elected Nabam Tuki government in Arunachal Pradesh in January, claimed that suspended Chief Minister Pema Khandu still enjoyed the support of most MLAs of his People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA).
“The BJP stands behind Pema as he is the NEDA (North East Democratic Alliance) chief minister. This is an internal matter of PPA and we don’t want to meddle in it. However, if it is a question of NEDA leadership, BJP will stand behind Pema,” BJP’s Arunachal unit president Tapir Gao told Express.
“We stand behind Pema if he is in the chair. At this juncture, he has got the requisite number,” Gao claimed.
The BJP, which has 12 MLAs in the 60-member Arunachal House, is an ally of the State’s two-party ruling coalition where PPA with 43 MLAs calls the shots. Congress has three legislators and there are two Independent MLAs, who are with the government. PPA’s strength has gone down to 36 after the party leadership suspended seven MLAs for alleged anti-party activities.
Asked about BJP’s position if the PPA MLAs back Takam Pario en bloc as their new Legislature Party leader, Gao said, “We will lend our support to the government if it continues to be in NEDA”.
NEDA is a conglomerate of non-Congress political parties of the Northeast where BJP is a major player.
Gao said the BJP would “wait and watch” and appropriately take a decision in case less than 30 of the PPA MLAs back Pario as the next chief minister.
Pario, who is Arunachal’s richest MLA, claimed he had the support of all PPA legislators. His declared assets are worth Rs.187 crore.
“Yes, it’s true only my name is doing the rounds for PPA Legislature Party leader. I have the support of all PPA MLAs and the party leadership,” he claimed.
Khandu was not available for comments but Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who was among the seven suspended PPA MLAs, termed the action against them as a blow from the back.
“It (suspension of MLAs) is aimed at upsetting a stable government,” Mein alleged. He also said that they were suspended without being asked for explanations.
It was learnt that acting governor V Shanmuganathan reached Arunachal on being informed of the development.