BJP set to have a minister in Arunachal govt, will be state No. 14 in party kitty

The BJP has decided to join the government of Pema Khandu in Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian Express has learnt that Tamiyo Taga, leader of the BJP in the state assembly, will soon be inducted in the Khandu cabinet. This will make Arunachal Pradesh the fourteenth state where the BJP is in power — and the sixth state where it will share power with regional parties. Last month, Khandu and his

colleagues deserted the Congress and joined the People’s Party of Arunachal. Only former chief minister Nabam Tuki is now with the Congress.In a House of 60 members, the PPA has 43, BJP 11 and Congress only one. Two MLAs are independent while three seats are vacant.

The PPA is a member of the North East Democratic Alliance which is part of the NDA. In the first week of October, when Khandu met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi, he invited the BJP to join his government.

Khandu’s supporters claim that if the BJP is part of the government, it will bring stability to the state which shares a long border with China.

Arunachal Pradesh politics has been on a roller-coaster for a year now. Khandu was made Chief Minister after the Supreme Court annulled President’s rule, which was imposed in the state following a split within the ruling Congress, and restored the government led by Tuki.