Aruncahal Pradesh: BJP announces candidates for State Assembly elections scheduled concurrently with Lok Sabha polls

Itanagar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made a significant stride towards the upcoming Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections by unveiling its roster of candidates, comprising all 60 hopefuls. However, the announcement comes with notable exclusions, as three ministers have been omitted from the party’s ticket allocation.

Scheduled concurrently with the parliamentary elections in Arunachal Pradesh, the assembly elections are poised to be a pivotal event. Among the prominent figures seeking re-election are Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, and Assembly Speaker Pasang Dorjee Sona, contesting from Mukto, Chowkham, and Mechuka constituencies, respectively.

In a bid to foster inclusivity, the BJP’s candidate list features four women candidates: Tsering Lhamu for Lumla, Nyabi Jini Dirchi for Basar, Dasanglu Pul for Hayuliang, and Chakat Aboh for Khonsa West.

The announcement also marks a shift in political dynamics, with three ministers—Bamang Felix, Tumke Bagra, and Tage Taki—finding themselves excluded from the BJP’s electoral lineup. This decision underscores the party’s strategic recalibration ahead of the polls.

The crucial decision regarding candidate selection was reached during a meeting chaired by the Central Election Committee (CEC) on Monday. The high-profile gathering included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other key committee members.

The BJP’s dominance in Arunachal Pradesh politics was evidenced in the 2019 Assembly polls, where it secured 41 seats. Subsequently, the party bolstered its ranks with the addition of seven MLAs from various other parties, including the Janata Dal-United. This consolidated the BJP’s grip on power, enabling the formation of its maiden elected government in the state.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu’s political trajectory, marked by a transition from the Congress to the People’s Party of Arunachal and eventually to the BJP, underscores the fluidity of alliances and affiliations in the state’s political landscape.

In a recent development, the BJP further solidified its position with the defection of two National People’s Party (NPP) and three Congress MLAs to its ranks, signalling a significant realignment in Arunachal Pradesh politics.

As the electoral momentum gathers pace, the BJP’s candidate lineup sets the stage for a keenly contested battle in the upcoming Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections