Two MLAs resign from Arunachal Pradesh Assembly
Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday dismissed media reports which suggested that the Nabam Tuki-led government is about to topple owing to a rebellion among party legislators.
A report published in a national daily yesterday claimed that 37 Congress legislators, including six ministers, have joined hands to try and topple Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.
The report named sitting ministers Kamlung Mossang, Chowna Mein, Wangling Lowangdong, Thangwang Wangham, Kumar Waii and Pema Khandu as having joined hands with former Finance Minister Kalikho Pul who is allegedly leading the dissident group. “The report is false, fabricated and misleading and there is no iota of truth in it,” APCC chief Padi Richo said in a statement here on Monday.
Rumours cannot be taken into consideration and it must be clarified by the concerned leaders, he said. “All the legislators are right now with the chief minister. “How can an expelled member like Kalikho Pul lead a few council of ministers?” Richo said.
The party also asked the ministers whose names have appeared in the media report, to immediately give a clarification. “The people have given the strong mandate to the present government under the leadership of chief minister Tuki and all flagships programs are taking place in full swing. There are a few people who are trying to tarnish the image of the popular government for their vested interest,” Richo added.
The 60-member Assembly in the state has 47 Congress, 11 BJP and two Independent legislators. Social Welfare, Child Development, Tribal Affairs Minister Wanglin Lowangdong when contacted said, “It is shocking that my name has been dragged. I am busy in conducting the Memorial Football Tournament at Khonsa in memory of my late mother Thansen Wangchadong in which the people of Tirap are enthusiastically involved. I am not aware of it,” he said.
Research Minister Thanwang Wangham, presently undergoing treatment in New Delhi, said, “Why should I talk to media about internal party matters. It would amount to mockery of party democracy. I am not aware of anything; nobody spoke to me about this.” However, Mein, Khandu, Waii and Mossang could not be contacted for comments.
But in a sudden political development, two Congress MLAs have resigned from the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly. Both the MLAs — Gabriel Denwang Wangsu and Wanglam Sawin — tendered their resignation letters to the Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia on September 16 last, which was accepted by the latter on September 30, a notification issued by the Speaker said here on Monday.
Both the MLAs could not be contacted to know the reason for their resignations.
Wangsu won from Kanubari seat in a by-election on October 15 last year after the death of Minister Newlai Tingkhatra. Sawin won Khonsa East seat under Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) ticket, but later he joined the Congress on December 20 last year along with other four members. With this, the strength of Congress in the 60-member House came to 45, while BJP has 11 legislators.
There are two Independents. (PTI)