Political uncertainty in Arunachal Pradesh continues with Chief Minister Pema Khandu set to lose his job after his expulsion from People’s Party in Arunachal (PPA) on Thursday evening.
Khandu was sacked along with six other MLAs by the party leadership. According sources, Takam Pario, a Congress leader who had gone out of the party and formed PPA after the death of former chief minister Kalhiko Pull, would take over as chief minister.
Pario, an MLA from Palin, near to Itanagar, belongs to one of the vanishing tribes in Arunachal Pradesh—Nyishi. One of the richest politicians in the state with assets over Rs 180 crore, he is a controversial figure with many criminal cases pending against him.
“The alliance would inform the speaker and governor about their decision...and would urge the governor to accept the nomination of new chief minister,” said T Taga, leader of the BJP which is in alliance with the ruling PPA.
Asked about the reasons behind the change of leadership, Taga said the alliance chose a more dynamic leader to speed up the development in the state.
There has been no statement from Khandu. Sources close to him said he is likely to be back in the Congress which has three MLAs in the assembly. However, even if all the seven sacked MLAs join the Congress, the party would be in no position to form the government.
One of the reasons, as sources said, caused Khandu’s expulsion was his growing intimacy with former chief minister and Congress leader Nabam Tuki.
