Arunachal out of Congress hand, again
GUWAHATI: DEFECTION LEAVES ONLY FORMER CM NABAM TUKI TO REPRESENT CONGRESS IN THE 60-MEMBER ARUNACHAL ASSEMBLY
The Congress is out of power in Arunachal Pradesh again after all but one of its MLAs joined a regional party on Friday, barely two months after the party’s government was restored by the Supreme Court.
The fresh crisis for the Congress could potentially lead to another prolonged turmoil in one of the most politically fickle states in the country that has seen chief ministers play musical chairs and legislators hop from one party to another over the years.
Forty-three MLAs led by chief minister Pema Khandu joined the Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA), leaving the Congress with only former chief minister Nabam Tuki. The 43 includes assembly speaker TN Thongdok.
The Congress, which accused the BJP of engineering the defection, described the PPA as the “illegitimate child” of the saffron party.
“Sadly the architects of extinguishing and murdering the very spirit of democracy and constitutionalism, are PM Modi and (BJP chief) Amit Shah who rode to power on the promise of cooperative federalism,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said in Delhi.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju, who is from Arunachal Pradesh and allegedly behind the power struggle there, countered the charge. “What can we do if MLAs do not want to stay with Congress? The Supreme Court had reinstated the Congress government but it is ultimately the decision of the MLAs,” Rijiju said. In December, more than 30 Congress rebels backed by the BJP had sided with the PPA, leading to formation of a government of the regional party led by Kalikho Pul.
It was subsequently struck down by the Supreme Court and the Congress had managed to wean back the rebel MLAs with Khandu at the helm.
Commenting on allegations that Modi government had given nothing to UP despite the party winning 71 Lok Sabha seats, Shah said: “More funds have been allocated to Uttar Pradesh but benefits have not reached down to common man due to corruption.”
When pointed out that Akhilesh Yadav had earlier in the day pointed out at the same event that the state government was giving Varanasi 24x7 power supply, Shah said: “The CM should not be concerned only about Varanasi.”
Shah also promised to supply more electricity to UP if Akhilesh Yadav could distribute it to every village.
Commenting on law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, Shah said the situation was much better in BJP ruled states.
On BSP leaders joining BJP, Shah said they were upset with BSP chief Mayawati as she was selling party tickets (for assembly polls). ON ACCHE DIN Under the Ujjwala Yojana introduced by Prime Minister, 30 lakh LPG connections have been issued to poor and prices of fertilizers have come down. Shah also assured acche din for the people of the state if BJP was voted to power in UP. ON RAM TEMPLE BJP would abide by the court’s decision on the Ram temple issue. The Centre could also help if the parties involved could reach out any consensus on the issue. ON DAYA SHANKAR ISSUE Daya Shankar Singh’s statement on BSP chief Mayawati, after which Singh was expelled from the party, was unfortunate.
“The statement was unfortunate. Singh had apologized and we have also expelled him from the party,” Shah said. But Mayawati took no action against its leader Nasimuddin Siddiqui who used foul language against Singh’s daughter. ON BULANDSHAHR RAPE
The incident was unfortunate and it should not be politicized.