Straight fight in Arunachal Pradesh

The Arunachal West Lok Sabha constituency will witness a virtual straight fight between sitting BJP Lok Sabha member Kiren Rijiju and former education minister Sanjoy of the ruling Congress.

The Arunachal West Lok Sabha constituency will witness a virtual straight fight between sitting BJP Lok Sabha member Kiren Rijiju and former education minister Sanjoy of the ruling Congress.

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The 37-year old Rijiju belongs to Nyishi community, the dominant tribe of Arunachal which constitutes one-third of the four lakh voters.

He claims his victory is certain as the state always elects ruling party candidates to parliament. The massive Rs 24,000 crore financial package to the state announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last year would make the people gratefully reciprocate by electing him.

Rijiju claims that before him no MP from the border tribal state could raise issues as effectively as he did which has endeared him to the people.

He was able to bring BJP's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani and party president Rajnath Singh to campaign for him.

Advani at an election rally at Seppa highlighted Rijiju securing a diplomatic visa from China enabling him to witness the Olympics. China has all along refused visas to chief ministers and MPs, MLAs from Arunachal as it claims the state as its territory.