Arunachal BJP says PPA no more part of its non-Congress platform

GUWAHATI: The BJP in Arunachal Pradesh moved a resolution in its executive meeting, declaring the People’s Party of Arunachal ( PPA) as not part of the Northeast Democratic Alliance ( NEDA), a BJP-floated platform of non-Congress parties.

Relationship between the two sides suffered a jolt in December, when chief minister Pema Khandu, along with several other MLAs, left the PPA and joined the BJP. PPA still has nine MLAs in the state assembly.

During the recently held Presidential election, the PPA had pledged support to Ram Nath Kovind, the candidate of the BJP-led NDA.

In the state executive, Khandu said major central and state-sponsored schemes were not being implemented properly at the ground level. He said the state government would work for the welfare of its employees, but would not hesitate to sack those who failed to perform. Non-performing officials would be given early retirement, he said.

The chief minister asked people to report to the government if someone demanded a percentage of money from development projects. Such practises must be rooted out with a collective effort, he said.

Speaking on the GST, he expressed concern over its poor migration from the earlier VAT regime. Less than 1% of the intended target population in Arunachal are covered by it as businessmen are poorly informed about the new tax system, he said.

A committee would be formed in the state soon to educate people about GST, the CM said