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The ruling Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) is likely to name legislator Takam Pario as the next chief minister, according to reports.
This comes after the party suspended Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday night. The Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and four more MLAs were suspended taking the toll to 11, for alleged anti-party activities.
PPA president Khafa Bengia said that the party is “not happy with Khandu’s leadership” as he was not able to “take the party into confidence on policy decisions”.
“We have decided that Pema should go, if he continues then I fear that misunderstanding can develop between BJP and PPA,” ANI quoted Bengia as saying.
State BJP president Tapir Gao, however, said that Khandu was unanimously elected and that the party still considers him as the Chief Minister.
Pema Khandu, 5 Other MLAs Suspended
The five other MLAs suspended are Jambey Tashi (Lumla), Passang Dorjee Sona (Mechuka), Chow Tewa Mein (Chowkham), Zingnu Namchom (Namsai) and Kamlung Mossang (Miao).
Bengia in an order stated that by virtue of the power vested in him by the Constitution of the party and the resolution adopted in the state executive committee meeting held on 20 December, the MLAs are placed under suspension temporarily from the primary membership with immediate effect pending initiation of disciplinary proceedings.
Bengia said prima facie he was satisfied with the proofs of their indulgence in gross "anti-party" activities.
The order further stated that with the suspension, Khandu ceased to be the leader of the PPA Legislature Party.
He directed the party MLAs and PPA functionaries not to attend any meeting called by Khandu and said that any members failing to comply with the order would have to face disciplinary action of the party.
In a letter to Assembly Speaker T Norbu Thongdok, Bengia requested him to declare the suspended MLAs as unattached members of the House and arrange separate sitting for them in the House.
He further requested the Speaker to communicate the development to the Governor.
(Source: ANI and PTI)
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