In Arunachal West, Kiren Rijiju keen to break jinx with victory

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which proposed to grant citizenship to non-Muslim refugees, has unsettled the indigenous tribal communities. Arunachal West constituency was also the theatre of violence as mobs in February protested Permanent Resident Certificates to non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe Communities.

Published on: Apr 12, 2019, 24:04:02 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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Bad weather forced Kiren Rijiju, minister of state in the Union Home Ministry back to capital Itanagar on Thursday, dashing his hopes of casting his vote. The 47-year-old is one of the BJP’s well-known faces, and will be looking to break a jinx on this constituency that has not returned the incumbent in the last three polls. Rijiju, the incumbent, had lost in the 2009 polls after winning the seat in 2004. The seat covers 33 assembly constituencies, including capital Itanagar. Jarjum Ete, a popular woman politician who resigned from the Congress and is contesting on a Janata Dal (Secular) ticket, is also in fray. The Congress fielded formed chief minister Nabam Tuki.

The 47-year-old is one of the BJP’s well-known faces, and will be looking to break a jinx on this constituency that has not returned the incumbent in the last three polls. (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which proposed to grant citizenship to non-Muslim refugees, has unsettled the indigenous tribal communities. Arunachal West constituency was also the theatre of violence as mobs in February protested Permanent Resident Certificates to non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe Communities. Three persons died allegedly in firing by security personnel.

In 2014, Rijiju won by over 41,000 votes Takam Sanjoy from Congress.

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

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