In a setback to the BJP in Arunachal Pradesh, more than 20 leaders, including two ministers, joined the National Peoples' Party (NPP) on Tuesday, 19 March, reported NDTV.
The mass desertion followed the Bharatiya Janata Party's decision to not grant party ticket to Arunachal General Secretary Jarpum Gamlin, state Home Minister Kumar Waii and Tourism Minister Jarkar Gamlin and several other sitting legislators for the Assembly elections.
On Monday, 18 March, Jarpum Gamlin dashed his resignation letter to the BJP's Arunachal president, Tapir Gao.
Jarpum was camping in Guwahati since Monday morning, where he met Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, along with other disgruntled leaders.
Meanwhile, the NPP has decided to field candidates in all the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the northeast for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
While the party has released its list of candidates for Meghalaya, it is likely to release its list of candidates for the rest of the constituencies soon.
(With inputs from NDTV, IANS)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)