BJP wants merger of PPA in Arunachal Pradesh with Saffron party, PPA terms the same as rumour

GUWAHATI: BJP wants Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Kalikho Pul led People’s Party of Arunachal ( PPA) to merge with the Saffron party.

Raising banner of revolt against chief minister, Nabam Tuki around 30 dissident congress MLAs joined the regional party PPA in March last.

However BJP central leadership now wants the PPA to merge with BJP. If this happens Arunachal will be second state in Northeast India after Assam where BJP led government will become functional. Presently BJP is lending outside support to three month old Pul’s government.

A senior leader in BJP told ET, “A decision to this effect will be taken on June 29 by Amit Shah. The affair of Arunachal is directly handled by Shah. BJP wants PPA to take decision soon and get the merger completed.”

BJP State Unit President Tapir Gao confirmed to ET that Party President Amit Shah has communicated Pul in this regard. “The proposal has been there for quite some time now. However due to assembly elections in Assam and court case the proposal took time to materialize.”

There was series of litigation pertaining to political crisis in Arunachal in Guahati High Court and the Supreme Court. Gao added that no deadline has given for the merger. Pul had sought some time.

BJP has 11 MLAs in the house of 60 while PPA has 30 besides there are two independents. Some PPA legislators are reluctant to merge with BJP and are adamant to retain the regional identity of PPA.

PPA Chairman Kameng Ringu said that there is nothing like merger with BJP. This might be rumour. PPA has for long being member of NDA. Both parties have resolved to work together.

He added that PPA is part of BJP’s grouping of non-Congress parties, North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). “There should not be any attempt to crush or sabotage the regional party. The two platforms of NDA and NEDA are enough to jointly work. It will be unfortunate if PPA merges with BJP. There must not be any misunderstanding between BJP and PPA.” (Eom)?