Arunachal Pradesh: Congress dealt with massive blow as 45 of 46 members quit

In what could be a major setback to the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh, at least 45 out of 46 Congress lawmakers have quit the party on 16 September.

If reports are to believed, Congress leaders including Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu are set to quit the party and join the People's Party of Arunachal Pradesh. Interestingly, the People's Party of Arunachal Pradesh, a regional party founded in 1979 has an alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).

"Have met the assembly speaker and informed him that they are merging the Congress with the People's Party of Arunachal or PPA," NDTV quoted Khandu as saying.

Additionally, a team from All India Congress Committee is likely to visit Arunchal Pradesh to speak to its party members on 17 September.

As some of the Congress party members claimed that the BJP influenced the party workers to quit, BJP leaders absolutely denied such allegations.

"Congress shouldn't blame BJP for its own failure. The Arunachal Pradesh CM & MLAs have consciously decided to merge with regional party,BJP has nothing to do with this," Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijju told the media.

On 13 July, the Supreme Court ordered a restoration of the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh by quashing all decisions of the Governor, precipitating its fall in January, holding them "violative" of the Constitution.