Crisis in Arunachal Pradesh: Split in the ruling People’s Party likely

GUWAHATI: Arunachal Pradesh is staring at another political drama as ruling party People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) has suspended chief minister, Pema Khandu and six others from the party. PPA has projected Takam Pario, the richest MLA in Arunachal Pradesh with declared assets of Rs 187 crore as the chief minister.

Split in PPA is eminent as the PPA leadership has claimed that Pario is being elected as the leader of legislature party however Khandu has refused to step down.

BJP which has 12 MLAs and supporting the PPA led government has stated it will support Pema Khandu as the chief minister and present crisis is the internal matter of PPA.

Khandu has support of around 30 MLAs while Pario has mastered the support of 16.

In last one year Arunachal has seen as many as three chief ministers. In September in a dramatic turnaround, Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh which was reinstated in July 2016 following the Supreme Court verdict proved short lived as 43 out 44 congress MLAs joined PPA.

PPA leadership is miffed with Khandu for not following the plans and programme of regional party and pursuing the agenda of BJP in the state.

PPA president Kahfa Bengia said that former deputy chief minister Kameng Dolo, present Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Tanga Byaling and Pario were the front runners for the coveted post, but the consensus decision was to name Pario as chief minister.

PPA Chairman Kameng Ringu told ET, “Khandu is busy hobnobbing with BJP. Khandu even had plans to switch over to BJP. PPA’s plan and programme were not followed by the Khandu.”

He party has sent letters to Speaker of the assembly informing about the suspension. Ringu said, “Despite the fact that PPA is member of NDA floated anti congress platform, Northeast Democratic Alliance (NEDA), we were not given much importance. Khandu was too busy promoting national party BJP and neglecting PPA.”

Bengia alleged that Khandu in his five-month tenure never visited the PPA office nor initiated any move for membership drive to strengthen the party.