BJP's first elected govt in Arunachal

BJP candidates have won in 18 seats and were leading in 8 others. JD (U), an ally of the BJP-led government won four seats, while Congress was leading only in three seats. Two candidates of National People’s Party (NPP), another NDA ally were also leading.

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 Arunachal Congress 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 to 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.