18 BJP leaders in Arunachal Pradesh join National People’s party

GUWAHATI: Eighteen BJP leaders in Arunachal Pradesh who were denied party tickets, including the state home minister Kumar Waii and tourism minister Jarkar Gamlin, joined the Conrad Sangma-led National People’s party (NPP).

Those who switched camps include the BJP’s state general secretary Jarpum Gamlin and MLAs Thangwang Wangham, Tapuk Taku, Pani Taram, Pangka Bage, Wangling Lowandong, Kardo Nyigyor and Tsering Jurmey.

NPP is a member of the BJP floated platform of non-Congress parties, North East Democratic Alliance.


It has decided to contest the assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh and contest all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the eight states across the Northeast.

Waii said that while the BJP accuses the Congress of being dynastic in Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP has given tickets to three family members of Chief Minister Pema Khandu. “If BJP was the right party, I would have been working for it. BJP says that for them the country is first, party second and person third, but they are doing dynasty politics. This is a secular state but BJP is an anti-religion party.”

NPP leader Thomas Sangma said the party will field 30-40 candidates in the state polls.