Although the developments in Arunachal Pradesh have boosted the morale of the Congress, especially the return of its rebel legislators on Saturday, the feeling in the party is that the state could hav
Although the developments in Arunachal Pradesh have boosted the morale of the Congress, especially the return of its rebel legislators on Saturday, the feeling in the party is that the state could have avoided the turmoil had the leadership acted timely and removed Nabam Tuki from the chief ministership.
“We lost Assam because the high command gave a long rope to Tarun Gogoi. Had he been replaced in 2013, the BJP would not have gained there and come to power. As far as Arunachal Pradesh is concerned, we emerged victorious after a legal and political battle, which was not necessary,” insiders said.
The central leadership not only ignored rebels in the two states, but also refused to take corrective measures and thus gave the space to political opponents, they said.
On Saturday, the Congress said people and legislators have rejected politics of defections and unseating of elected governments in the state and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah should draw lessons in democratic values.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said those who sought to keep constitutional principles aside, decimating them at the altar of power politics, have been shown the strength of democracy in the state.
“The Supreme Court, and now the people and the MLAs of Arunachal Pradesh, have decisively rejected the politics of defection and unseating elected governments through a concerted well-planned and executed conspiracy... the BJP and its chief Amit Shah, who have been conspiring to bring down elected governments in the Northeast, need to take lessons in democratic values,” he said. He said Saturday’s developments indicate that people have faith that the Congress will provide a stable and development-oriented government in Arunachal.
“It is a lesson for BJP president Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi, who sought to unseat and bring down elected governments by completely ignoring the mandate of people, subjugating democracy and ignoring the essential tenets of our Constitution,” he said.
“Those who wanted to give the Constitutional principles at bay and keep it on the side by decimating them at the altar of power politics have been shown the strength of democracy in Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.
AICC general secretary in-charge of fhe party affairs in Norhteast states Dr C P Joshi said the BJP chief Amit Shah wanted to make Northeast states “Congress mukta” (free from Congress). And as part of this exercise Mr Shah had even called a meeting in Guwahati recently in which the then cheif minister (Kalikho Pul of People’s Party of Arunachal ) also attended and united our legislators(rebel) after the Supreme Court’s historic judgement.
However,the MLAs decided to return after the judgement and expressed their faith in the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Mr Rahul Gandhi and took party in the CLP meeting held in Itanagar.
Attacking the BJP chief he said it was a blow to his plans of making the Northeast “Congress-mukt” as he had convened a meeting of the North-East Council formed by him the day the Supreme Court judgement came.
Hoping that the Governor would soon invite newly-elected Congress leader in the state to form his government as all Congress MLAs have come together expressing their faith in the Congress leadership, he said, “We also hope the Centre would fulfil its responsibility towards extending its support to the development of Arunachal Pradesh.”
Asked if any disciplinary action will be taken against ousted chief minister Kalikho Pul, who formed a government with rebels and the support of BJP, he said it was premature as a government was yet to be formed and Pul has come back as a Congressman and had attended the Legislature Party meeting as a Congress member.
To a question on why Nabam Tuki was jettisoned, Mr Surjewala said “we do not look at it like this. Tuki by his own volition and in the interest of the Party and in the interest of people of Arunachal Pradesh, decided to resign as Chief Minister. He has rendered valuable service to the State as also to the Indian National Congress and we recognize his contribution”.
