Congress loses government in Arunanchal Pradesh, CM and MPs resign

Itanagar: The Congress party lost government in Arunanchal Pradesh after 40 odd Members of Parliament of the party resigned along with the Chief Minister, Pema Khandu, to join BJP ally People’s party.

The Lawmakers have decided to join the People’s party in the state.

CM Khandu said, "Have met the Assembly speaker and informed him that some members of the party are merging with the People's Party of Arunachal or PPA."

In House has strength of 60 members out of which Congress had the support of 47 MLAs, including two Independents, while Opposition BJP has 11 members.

It may be recalled that Khandu was sworn in as the ninth Chief Minister on July 17, replacing Nabam Tuki as the new Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader last after months of political turmoil in the state. Hours ahead of a scheduled floor test in the Assembly, which the governor had directed Tuki to take, the Congress Legislature Party met and elected Pema, son of late chief minister Dorjee Khandu, as its new leader.

Tuki had proposed the name of Khandu while Chowna Mein had been sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister. The decision had been unanimously accepted by 44 MLAs who were present.