Itanagar: The BJP yesterday said it was now at the helm in Arunachal Pradesh after 33 legislators, including Chief Minister Pema Khandu, of the Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA), defected to it, making it the 10th state in the country ruled by the saffron party.
"Arunachal Pradesh becomes 10th BJP ruled state and 14th with the BJP (as an ruling ally). Congratulations to CM Pema Khandu and welcome into the BJP Parivar," party General Secretary Ram Madhav tweeted.
The announcement of Khandu and 32 legislators from the PPA joining the BJP was earlier announced by state BJP President Tapir Gao.
"Thirty-three MLAs of the PPA joined us today. It will be a strong BJP Government now," Gao said. He said the BJP government has the majority support in the 60-member Arunachal assembly and Khandu would continue as the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister paraded his MLAs in front of Speaker Tenzing Norbu. "Lotus has finally bloomed in Arunachal Pradesh. The people of the state see a new dawn of development in the New Year," Khandu said after meeting the Speaker. The political development in Arunachal Pradesh took a turn on Thursday when Khandu was suspended from the PPA along with six other MLAs.
