Rijiju distances BJP from Arunachal development, blames dissent in Congress

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday blamed internal dissent in Congress for the political turmoil in Arunachal Pradesh.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday blamed internal dissent in Congress for the political turmoil in Arunachal Pradesh, where chief minister Pema Khandu and 42 MLAs joined a regional outfit People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA).

Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu being sworn-in on July 17, 2016. Khandu’s elevation had ended months of political turmoil in the Congress that nearly ended its hold on the state. (HT Photo)

Stating that the BJP had nothing to do with the latest political development in the state, Arunachal-born Rijiju said the Congress MLAs were “angry with their own leadership”.

Read | Fresh crisis for Congress in Arunachal as 42 MLAs join regional party

“Congress MLAs including the chief minister in Arunachal are angry with their own central leadership. They have to wait in Delhi for 4-5 days to meet their own leaders. This has eventually led to MLAs joining a regional party. There is no more Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.

This is the second time this year that the Congress has been hit hard by rebellion in the northeastern state.

Read | Son rise in Arunachal as Congress’ Pema Khandu takes charge

“If the MLAs don’t want to stay with Congress, what can the others do,” the minister of state for home said.

“The Supreme Court also reinstated the Congress government but ultimately the MLAs’ decision is final. Congress tried to blame BJP unnecessarily.”

In a shocker for Congress, all but one of its MLAs, including the chief minister, joined the PPA on Friday, and the party faces the prospect of losing its government.

Sources said Khandu, who two months ago became chief minister in a development that restored the Congress government, joined the PPA with 42 MLAs, and virtually converted it into a PPA government.