Itanagar: The revolving door politics of Arunachal Pradesh is at work once again.
Incumbent Chief Minister and former Congress rebel Pema Khandu and six other lawmakers were suspended from the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) on Thursday evening for allegedly breaking party discipline. The regional party had embraced Mr Khandu along with 42 other Congress lawmakers in mid-September.
In an order issued by PPA president Kafia Bengia on Thursday, the party also categorically announced that Pema Khandu is no longer the leader of the legislature party and cannot exercise any of the powers bestowed to him as the leader of the legislature party.
PPA has also warned its legislators not to attend any meetings called by Mr Khandu, failing which disciplinary action would be taken.
"We had to take action since these MLAs were acting against the interest of the party. We will soon elect a new legislature party leader," Mr Bengia reportedly said in Itanagar late on Thursday.
The developments have raised the prospect of a leadership change in the state as the PPA is likely to propose the name of another leader, Takam Pario, as Mr Khandu's replacement. The regional party communicated its decision to the assembly speaker and the Governor on Thursday evening.
The frontier state in the north-east has witnessed political instability since last December when Congress dissidents revolted against former Congress Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.
Subsequently, Congress rebel Kalikho Pul formed the government in the state in February with the help of 11 BJP lawmakers.
However, after the Congress challenged the former Governor's decision in the Supreme Court, the top court turned the clock back and restored Mr Tuki's government. But since Mr Tuki didn't enjoy majority in the 60-member assembly, Mr Khandu was chosen as a compromise candidate of the 43 Congress lawmakers.
In August, Congress rebel and former chief minister Kalikho Pul committed suicide and a month later, Mr Khandu and other Congress members merged their party and joined the PPA. Only Mr Tuki remained in the Congress and two other lawmakers who were fighting a court case against their disqualification from the Congress government were outside the ruling alliance, which included the BJP.
Incumbent Chief Minister and former Congress rebel Pema Khandu and six other lawmakers were suspended from the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) on Thursday evening for allegedly breaking party discipline. The regional party had embraced Mr Khandu along with 42 other Congress lawmakers in mid-September.
In an order issued by PPA president Kafia Bengia on Thursday, the party also categorically announced that Pema Khandu is no longer the leader of the legislature party and cannot exercise any of the powers bestowed to him as the leader of the legislature party.
"We had to take action since these MLAs were acting against the interest of the party. We will soon elect a new legislature party leader," Mr Bengia reportedly said in Itanagar late on Thursday.
Advertisement
The frontier state in the north-east has witnessed political instability since last December when Congress dissidents revolted against former Congress Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.
Advertisement
However, after the Congress challenged the former Governor's decision in the Supreme Court, the top court turned the clock back and restored Mr Tuki's government. But since Mr Tuki didn't enjoy majority in the 60-member assembly, Mr Khandu was chosen as a compromise candidate of the 43 Congress lawmakers.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Arunachal Makes Inner Line Permit Mandatory For Non-Residents To Enter State Scientists Discover New Plant Species In Arunachal Pradesh 3 Independents Extend Unconditional Support To BJP Government In Arunachal 8 Dead, 2,750 Hurt As Pagers Explode Across Lebanon, Hezbollah Blames Israel Video: Leopard Spotted Crossing Road In Bengaluru's Electronic City IndiGo Flight Tailstrike Leaves Huge Dent During Take-Off From Delhi Airport True Secular, Liberal And Feminist: Kangana Ranaut Praises PM Modi Norway Now Has More Electric Cars Than Petrol Models, 1st In The World "Mother Used To Feed Me Jaggery": PM Modi Gets Emotional On 74th Birthday Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.