Centre distances itself from change of guard in Arunachal

Reiterating that the Supreme Court's verdict to reinstate the Congress Government in Arunachal Pradesh was not a setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said the Centre had nothing to do with recent political developments in the state, adding that the changing of chief ministerial candidate was their internal decision.

"The Government of India has got nothing to do with the events transpiring in Arunachal Pradesh. When the situation deteriorated there, the Centre decided to impose President's Rule based on the Governor's report. That is the only way in which the GOI is involved," Rijiju told mediapersons here.

"The decision of the Congress to choose a new leader in Arunachal Pradesh is their internal matter. There are some reports that say the Supreme Court's verdict was a setback to the Centre, which is not true. It was not a BJP Government, the BJP was just supporting from outside. Our decision (earlier) was to support any non-Congress government. We have got nothing to do with Congress changing its chief ministerial candidate," he added.

Ahead of the floor test, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) decided to change the guard in the sate from Nabam Tuki to Pema Khandu.

The Supreme Court, in a historic verdict on Wednesday, reinstated Tuki-led Congress Government and quashed the actions of the Governor post December 15 last year.

In December last, Congress rebels, backed by the BJP, staged a coup and ousted Nabam Tuki as chief minister.