BJP not to insist on merger of PPA with BJP in Arunachal Pradesh

GUWAHATI: With Arunachal Pradesh back in the NDA fold, BJP will not insist on merger of People’s Party of Arunachal ( PPA) with BJP.

Merger with BJP was one of major irritant that caused rift between two parties and prompted dissent congress leaders to come back to parent party in July this year.

On Friday 43 out 44 Congress MLAs joined regional political party, PPA. PPA is a constituent of NDA’ floated anti congress political grouping of political parties, Northeast Democratic Alliance ( NEDA).

Early this year dissent congress leaders around 30 have joined PPA and formed a government which had outside support of BJP. BJP’s central leadership than wanted the PPA to merge with BJP.

Learning from the past fiasco, which led to congress coming back to power, BJP will not insist for merger.

A senior BJP told ET, “As PPA is constituent of NDA’s NEDA we do not think there is any need for merger. We are happy that Arunachal now has NDA government and this is gift to Prime minister, Narendra Modi on his birthday on September 17.”

In the house of 57 members BJP has 11 MLAs. The lone member left with congress is former chief minister, Nabam Tuki.

The leader added, “Given the fragile nature of Arunachal politics, we would like this government to complete its term.”

BJP State Unit President Tapir Gao told ET, “The decision if BJP will join the government or not will be taken by the BJP leadership in New Delhi."