In Arunachal Pradesh, BJP takes the plunge, joins Pema Khandu govt

About a month after Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu and almost all the Congress legislators switched side and deserted Congress to join Peoples Party of Arunachal, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday joined the government at Itanagar.

Meghalaya governor V. Shanmuganathan who is also the in-charge of Arunachal Pradesh on Friday administered the oath of office to BJP leader Tamiyo Taga as new cabinet minister. Tapang Taloh, who was the minister industries, was dropped from the state cabinet to create vacancy to induct BJP leader in the cabinet.

The BJP general secretary Ram Madhav who on Friday air dashed to Itanagar to take part in the swearing in ceremony told reporters that his party after assessing the political scenario of the state took this decision to join the government. The BJP was extending outside support so far to the PPA-government, which is also the constituent of BJP led North East Democratic Alliance.