In a shocker for Congress, all its MLAs except for Nabam Tuki, on Friday joined the People’s Party of Arunachal Pradesh. Because of this the party now faces the prospect of losing its government.
This mass departure also includes Chief Minister Pema Khandu. Sources said Khandu, who two months ago became chief minister in a development that restored the Congress government, along with 42 Congress MLAs joined the PPA and virtually converted it into a PPA government.
The only MLA who has stayed with the Congress is Tuki, who was replaced as chief minister when the Congress, in an effort to control the rebellion in its ranks, replaced him with Khandu in July.
It remains to be seen whether the PPA will align with BJP, which has 11 MLAs in the House.