Congress loses Arunachal as 43 MLAs join BJP ally

Politics turned a full circle in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday when 43 of the 44 Congress MLAs, including Chief Minister Pema Khandu, joined the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA), a part of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), a BJP-led front.

Just two months ago, Mr. Khandu and his group of Congress rebels had deserted the PPA



and returned to the Congress to form the government.Mr. Khandu became the Chief Minister on July 16, replacing Nabam Tuki, who in turn had replaced Kalikho Pul after the Supreme Court reinstated the Tuki government.

During Mr. Pul’s four-and-a-half month tenure, he and other MLAs had formed the PPA and joined the NEDA.