ITANAGAR, December 30 (PTI): As a fresh political drama unfolded in Arunachal Pradesh after Chief Minister Pema Khandu was suspended from the Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) along with six other MLAs, his government on Friday claimed majority support and the BJP backed him. But the ruling party said there would be a change in leadership. The Khandu government claimed the support of 49 of the 60 MLAs, including 35 of the PPA, a day after he was suspended from his party. Government spokesperson Bamang Felix claimed that 35 out of the 43 PPA MLAs have reposed faith in and allegiance to the leadership of Khandu. “We have support of 49 MLAs, including 35 PPA, 12 BJP, along with one associate BJP member and one independent,” he claimed at a press conference here. “Everything is going normally as usual and the Chief Minister is still enjoying absolute majority from the PPA, the BJP and independent MLAs,” Felix said in response to queries. The PPA on midnight Thursday night temporarily suspended Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chhowna Mein and five other MLAs from the primary membership of the party for their alleged “anti-party activities“. Stating that there was no question of change in leadership, Felix said, “We are looking at the legal aspects of the suspension of seven MLAs, including Khandu.” “The PPA is not a single man party. Whatever decision was taken by party president Kahfa Bengia was his own. We are trying to sort out the differences among the party MLAs and our door is open for all,” the spokesman said. Responding to a query on the BJP’s claim that the process is on for the PPA MLAs to join it, Felix said that since PPA is an alliance partner of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) government “no such question arises“. The BJP, during the day, made it clear that it will support “only” the Khandu government and “will never” support any other chief minister. Bengia on his part said that Takam Pario, PHED minister, is likely to be the next chief minister. “The sudden decision of the PPA is not acceptable to us as they have never discussed with us. In the interest of development of the State and its people, the BJP cannot be a party to change of government every six months,” BJP legislature party leader Tamiyo Taga told a press conference. Taga, who is also the Textile and Handicraft Minister, said the party had decided to support Khandu on the floor of the Assembly if the Governor issued directives for a floor test. Khandu broke away from the Congress along with 42 lawmakers in September this year, managing a coup that suddenly left the party out of power in the State. Arunachal has been battling political instability since December last year when Congress dissidents revolted against former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki. After a series of dramatic developments, which included a special session held at a hotel to vote out Tuki, Congress rebel Kalikho Pul became the Chief Minister in February with the help of 11 BJP lawmakers. The Congress then moved the Supreme Court, which turned the clock back and restored Tuki’s government. But Tuki was out within days as he did not enjoy a majority in the 60-member Assembly. Pul, who insisted that he be reinstated as chief minister, was left alone in the last minute when lawmakers supposedly backing him shifted their loyalties to Khandu. Pul committed suicide in August and a month later, Khandu walked out of the Congress with 42 lawmakers and joined the PPA. BJP to support "only" Khandu The BJP in Arunachal Pradesh today made it clear that it will "only" support Pema Khandu government in the state and "will never" support any other chief minister. The party decision came in the backdrop of the unprecedented political development where Peoples' Party of Arunachal (PPA) temporarily suspended Chief Minister Pema Khandu, his deputy Chowna Mein and other five MLAs late last night for alleged anti-party activities. "BJP, being a coalition partner of the PPA in the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) government in the state, was not discussed on the issue before announcing the decision which could have been sorted out," BJP legislature party leader Tamiyo Taga told a press conference here. "The sudden decision of the PPA is not acceptable to us as they have never discussed with us. In the interest of development of the state and its people, BJP cannot be a party to change government in every six months," Taga said. Taga, who is also the Textile and Handicraft Minister, further said that the party has decided to support Khandu in the floor of the assembly if the Governor issues directives for a floor test. Claiming of a "visible split" among the PPA legislators, Taga said that he had seen 26 PPA MLAs with Khandu when he visited the chief minister's residence this morning. Giving a genesis of the political development since last year which witnessed three chief ministers so far, Taga said, "Pema Khandu was acceptable to us and the people of the state and so our central leadership allowed us to join the government." Responding to allegations of PPA president Kahfa Bengia that Khandu was more inclined to BJP than PPA, Taga said that "all the PPA legislators were inclined towards BJP". When asked whether Khandu along with his supporters would join the BJP to form the next government in the state, the senior party leader in a veiled indication stated that joining of PPA MLAs to BJP would be "considered" by the central leadership and "perhaps it is under process".
