Congress loses power in Arunachal Pradesh as CM Prema Khandu leads sweeping exodus
New Delhi, Sept 16 (IBNS) : In a tale of fluctuating fortune, the Congress in Arunachal Pradesh once again lost control over the state as Chief Minister Prema Khandu on Friday led almost all but one lawmaker to join an ally of the BJP, turning the ruling party a minuscule minority, reports said.
The dramatic development in the volatile northeastern state came only two months after the Congress regained power following a Supreme Court order.
Khandu has led a band of 43 of the 44 Congress lawmakers to join the regional People's Party of Arunachal, which is an ally of the BJP.
The sole legislator who has stayed with the Congress is Nabam Tuki, who was replaced as Chief Minister to arrest a rebellion in the ranks that had thrown the party out of power in January.
Khandu claimed that it was a merger of the Congress with the People's Party.
In an assembly of 60 members, the Congress had 44 lawmakers. The BJP has 11 members.
The two independent lawmakers who supported the Congress have also joined the People's Party.
Khandu took charge at the head of the Congress government in July after the Supreme Court declared as illegal the process through which the baton of power was taken away from the Congress through a mass exodus.
The Congress's previous government led by Nabam Tuki had collapsed as a result of rebel legislators joining hands with the BJP and voting it out in a special session held at a makeshift venue.
After a period of central rule, Congress rebels led by Kalikho Pul assumed power with support from the BJP and was there for five months till the Supreme Court reinstated the previous government in July.
Top Headlines
-
News
'Urged Israel to at least stop bombing Gaza during Ramadan': PM Modi in interview
May 17, 2024
-
News
'Modi finished BJP veterans' careers, will replace Yogi Adityanath too if...': Arvind Kejriwal
May 11, 2024
-
News
Vladimir Putin takes oath for his fifth term as Russia's President, vows to defend country
May 09, 2024
-
News
Pakistan desperate to make 'shehzada' the PM of India: Modi's veiled jibe at Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat poll rally
May 02, 2024
-
News
Key accused in Salman Khan house firing incident dies after attempting suicide
May 01, 2024
-
News
Columbia University protesters are now demanding free food and water from authorities, demonstration erupts in UCLA
May 01, 2024
-
News
'Life, liberty exceedingly important': Supreme Court questions ED on Kejriwal's arrest before elections
April 30, 2024
-
News
Man with sword kills 13-year-old in London, injures four others
April 30, 2024
-
News
Supreme Court to deliver verdict on pleas seeking complete count of VVPAT slips
April 24, 2024
-
News
WMO report shows Asia hit hardest by climate change and extreme weather
April 24, 2024