Lone JD (U) MLA in Arunachal Pradesh joins ruling BJP

The JD(U) MLA’s move comes after the Nitish Kumar-led party broke alliance with the BJP in Bihar on August 9 and formed a new government in partnership with the RJD, Congress and others

Published on: Aug 24, 2022, 20:23:10 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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The lone Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator in Arunachal Pradesh joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday taking the saffron party’s total MLAs to 49 in the 60-member state assembly.

Deputy Speaker in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly, Tesam Pongte said that JD-U MLA Techi Kaso will henceforth be part of the ruling BJP benches. (File)

The move comes after the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) broke alliance with the BJP in Bihar on August 9 and formed a new government in partnership with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and others.

A notice on change of party affiliation issued by deputy Speaker in the Assembly, Tesam Pongte on Wednesday said that JD-U MLA Techi Kaso, who represents the Itanagar seat, will henceforth be part of the ruling BJP benches.

The JD-U won 7 seats in the last assembly polls held in June, 2019 and the BJP secured 41. But in December, 2020, 6 JD-U MLAs and the lone legislator from Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) joined the ruling party taking the BJP’s tally to 48 MLAs.

The Congress and the National Peoples’ Party have 4 MLAs each in the Assembly while there are 3 Independent legislators.

Arunachal Pradesh BJP president Biyuram Wahge and Techi Kaso couldn’t be contacted for their comments.

Meanwhile, the Nitish Kumar government won the trust vote in Bihar Vidhan Sabha amid a BJP boycott on Wednesday .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More