GUWAHATI: In a boost to the ruling BJP in Arunachal Pradesh ahead of polls, two Congress MLAs and as many legislators from the National Peoples' Party (NPP) joined the ruling BJP on Sunday.Two MLAs each from the Congress and the National People’s Party (NPP) joined the party on Sunday.
The shifting of political allegiance came at a time when the political parties in the frontier state are preparing for simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
MLAs Ninong Ering and Wanglin Lowangdong (both Congress) and Mutchu Mithi and Gokar Basar (both NPP) wore saffron in the presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Assam minister Ashok Singhal and other leaders of state BJP in Itanagar. Khandu said the decision of the quartet to join the BJP was a testament to their faith in the principles of good governance championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The PM’s transformative leadership, centred around the motto of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas', has brought about positive change across the country. Their joining the party will further fortify our base in their respective constituencies and Arunachal,” the CM said.
“Together, we look forward to continuing our commitment to the principles of inclusive development and people-centric welfare,” he added. Headed by the Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, the NPP is a BJP ally and part of the National Democratic Alliance at the centre. The BJP has two MLAs in Meghalaya – one of them a minister.
Following Sunday’s development, the BJP’s strength in the 60-member Arunachal Assembly rose to 53. The Congress and the NPP are now left with two MLAs each. The state has three independent MLAs.
In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP had bagged 41 seats, followed by Janata Dal (United) with seven seats, NPP with five, Congress with four and People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) with one. Two seats were won by independent candidates. In due course, all the seven JD (U) MLAs and the lone PPA legislator joined the BJP. One of the NPP MLAs was killed by suspected militants just days before the results were declared. His wife had won a by-election as an independent. This then reduced the NPP’s strength to four and increased the number of independent MLAs to three.
The Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls will simultaneously be held in the northeastern state later this year.