Crisis strikes Cong in Arunachal, 43 MLAs led by CM Khandu to cross-over

43 of Congress' 44 legislators have joined People’s Party of Arunachal which is part of a BJP-led alliance.

Itanagar: Congress Party is facing a huge political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh again, as two-thirds of its legislators led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu are set to join the People’s Party of Arunachal, which is part of a BJP-led alliance.

Congress has 44 legislators in the Assembly which comprises of 60 members and 43 of them have joined the People’s Party of Arunachal. The MLAs will not face any action under the Anti-Defection Law as the act says that if at least one-third of elected members of a political party leave, it would be considered as a merger.

The only MLA to remain with Congress is Nabam Tuki, who ironically was replaced by Khandu as the Chief Minister in July this year after the party tried to suppress rising rebellion against its government.

Khandu and his coterie would become a part of North-East Democratic Alliance that was found by BJP President Amit Shah.

(This article first appeared in Deccan Chronicle)