First BJP govt in Arunachal, CM wins first election

BJP is set to have its first elected government in Arunachal Pradesh with the party winning 28 of the 47 seats, where counting was on till 11 pm.

Polling for 57 constituencies were conducted on April 11, along with two Lok Sabha seats. Three BJP candidates were already declared winners unopposed, enabling BJP’s tally to touch the magic figure of 31.

BJP candidates were leading in 8 other seats. JD (U), an ally of the BJP-led government emerged as the second biggest party by winning six seats and leading in another. Congress won only three seats. National People’s Party (NPP), another NDA ally won one and was leading in three others.

The trend for rest of the seats was awaited.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who contested election for the first time won in Mukto constituency. Khandu, son of former chief minister late Dorjee Khandu was declared winner uncontested twice in 2011 and 2014.

Tirong Aboh, the NPP MLA, who was shot dead on Monday, was also among the winners. BJP had formed its government in the frontier state twice before--first in 2003 and again in 2016 after MLAs of other parties switched to its fold. Chief Minister Pema Khandu and other MLAs, who won in 2014 as People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) candidates had first switched to Congress and then to BJP in 2016 and formed the government.

“From East to West and north to south, lotus wave keeps flying high all over Arunachal Pradesh,” Kandu tweeted.

BJP formed its first government in 2003 when MLAs of ArunachalCongress led by Gegong Apang had defected to the saffron party.

BJP attributed the victory to people’s faith in Narendra Modi’s promise of speedier development including improvement in connectivity, the biggest problem in the state.

Many parts of the state still don’t have roads and depend on helicopter services of Indian Air Force to transport essential items. BJP government has started work on a greenfield airport at Hollongi with a promise to connect the state with better air transport service under the Centre’s Regional Connectivity Scheme. The IAF has also revamped six advance landing grounds in remote areas, which would be used for civilian aircraft too.