ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Dec 24: In a dramatic political twist ahead of Saturday’s PR and Municipal election results, at least six sitting Janata Dal (U) MLAs and one People's Party of Arunachal MLA of the state today joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
The merger of the MLAs has been confirmed by Speaker of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly PD Sona in a bulletin released today. 
According to the official bulletin of the State Legislative Assembly, six JDU MLAs from 32- Rumgong Talem Taboh, 9- Chayang Tajo Hayeng  Mangfi, 20- Tali Jikke Tako, 5-Kalaktang DW Kharma,7- Bomdila Dongru Siongju and 40- Mariyang-Geku Kanggong Taku  merged with the BJP. The lone   sitting MLA of the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) from 28-Likabali AC Kardo Nyigyor who was suspended earlier this month for anti-party activities also deserted his party to join the saffron brigade. 
“We have accepted their letters conveying the intention to join the party and we are happy that they have extended their faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government and  Pema Khandu-led state BJP government,” State BJP President BR Waghe said.
The JD (U) led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar won seven of the 15 assembly seats it contested on its own in the Arunachal Pradesh assembly elections held in 2019 and emerged as the second largest party. These seven MLAs were Techi Kaso (Itanagar), Talem Taboh (Rumgung), Dorjee Wangdi Kharma (Kalaktang-Rupa), Kanggong Taku (Mariyang-Geku), Dongru Siongju (Bomdila), Jikke Tako (Tali) and Hayeng Mangfi (Chayang Tajo). With the absorption of its six sitting MLAs with the BJP, the numerical strength of the JD (U) in the state assembly has been reduced to just one and for the BJP it has now increased to 48.
Moreover, although the JD (U) is in alliance with the BJP at the Centre, here in the state the relationship status of the two parties is still unclear as in the just concluded Panchayat and Municipal elections both fielded their candidates against each other in multiple segments and wards.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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