Following Congress exit, BJP to join hands with Khandu led-PPA govt. in Arunachal

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Arunachal Pradesh will join Chief Minister Pema Khandu led-Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) today.

According to BJP state president Tapir Gao, BJP leader Tamiyo Taga will be sworn in as a minister.

This major coalition came nearly a month after Khandu and 42 other MLAs of the Congress switched sides and, merged with former chief minister Kalikho Pul's regional party PPA.

In Mid-September, Khandu resigning from the Congress party with 42 other MLAs, stating that the decision to resign was unanimous, adding that the aspiration of the people of state is very regional in character and it was necessary to have a synergy between the two.

In the 60-member House with an effective strength of 58, the Congress had the support of 47 MLAs, including two Independents, while Opposition BJP has 11 members.

Khandu was sworn-in as the ninth Arunachal Chief Minister on 17 July.

In a dramatic turnaround in this land-locked state on July 16, Congress replaced Nabam Tuki by choosing Khandu as the new Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, who staked claim to power on the basis of support of 45 party MLAs along with two Independents.