Itanagar: Clearing all clouds that surrounded the Arunachal Pradesh politics during the past couple of days, finally 33 Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) MLAs switched over to BJP, including Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein at Nokmey Namati Hall in State Legislative Assembly Secretariat at Naharlogun, today. Mr Khandu’s leadership was supported by 33 PPA MLAs and two independents, and 12 BJP MLAs.
Talking to mediapersons after completing formalities, Mr Khandu said, “From now our government will be known as BJP government”. “We joined BJP for giving a stable government that will work for overall development of the state. “We were frustrated in PPA due to its one after another suspension notices served to the MLAs by party president. “We talked to BJP’s central leadership today and they advised us to join the saffron brigade”, he added.
The Chief Minister further said that three Cabinet Ministers of his Council of ministry have been dropped and the letter already been forwarded to the Governor. The dropped ministers were Tanga Byaling, Takam Pario and Rajesh Tacho. State BJP President Tapir Gao, who was also present in the occasion said, “Pema Khandu will remain as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and there will be no change in the post”. With the switching over of 33 PPA MLAs,
BJP has risen up to 45, including its own 12 MLAs, three from Congress, PPA nine and two independents in the 60-member House. Earlier, Independent MLA Paknga Bage had joined BJP as an associate member. (UNI)