Nabam Tuki represents the Sagalee assembly constituency in the state (File)
Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki on Saturday said that he had offered to resign from the post of the state Congress president but as he did not receive any response from the AICC, he would continue to discharge his responsibilities in that post.
Mr Tuki dismissed reports that he had resigned from the post "on moral grounds" after the defection of three MLAs to the BJP.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Tuki, the Sagalee MLA, said that he had sent a letter to the party's leadership on election preparedness in the state and in that letter, he had expressed his willingness to resign from the post till the elections were over.
"I had offered to resign from the post of PCC president because I am not able to assist those who intend to contest the upcoming assembly elections and campaign for them as I will also be contesting the polls. So, I thought of resigning from the post," Mr Tuki said.
"However, I did not receive any response from the All India Congress Committee (AICC), so I would continue to carry out my responsibilities as the party's state unit president. I remain committed to serving the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the Congress," Mr Tuki added.
APCC general secretary Gyamar Tana had on Friday claimed that Mr Tuki has resigned on moral grounds as he could not prevent the defection of the MLAs to other political parties.
A prominent figure in the state's political landscape, Mr Tuki has been at the helm of the APCC for several years, overseeing the party's strategies and engagements.
In a major setback to the grand old party in the state earlier this month, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Lombo Tayeng, a six-time MLA from Mebo constituency in East Siang district, joined the BJP.
Two other senior Congress MLAs -- Ninong Ering and Wanglin Lowangdong -- also joined the saffron party.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)