BJP to provide outside support to Arunachal government

The BJP will support the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) government in Arunachal Pradesh from outside as of now and the decision on joining the government will be taken in near future, a senior leader said on Sunday.

"As of now, the BJP is going to support Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu-led PPA government from outside. However, the party leadership will take the decision whether the BJP will join the government or not," said Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Sarma, who is the convener of the BJP-led anti-Congress alliance, North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), was addressing a press conference in Itanagar, Arunchal Pradesh capital city.

The BJP has 11 legislators in the 60-member Arunachal Pradesh assembly.

"The PPA is a constituent of NEDA and so, the government in Arunachal Pradesh will be known as NEDA government," Sarma said.

He also hinted that the issue of the BJP joining the government in Arunachal Pradesh may be taken up for discussion at the forthcoming national executive of the party in Kerala later this week.

Sarma reiterated that the BJP has no role in the decision of the Congress legislators to merge with the PPA on Friday.

"The BJP or the NEDA came to know about this only after the merger took place. I got a call from Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday evening and informed this to my national (BJP) president Amit Shah," Sarma said.

"PPA is already a member of the NEDA and Chief Minister Khandu also expressed his desire to be a member of the NEDA," he added.

"NEDA was formed in May this year for the sake of development in the northeastern region. Now with a stable government in place in Arunachal Pradesh under the leadership of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, I hope the NEDA government will usher in a new dimension of development in Arunachal Pradesh," he added.

Pema Khandu, who was also present in the press conference, said that the decision of the Congress legislators to merge with the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) was taken considering the demand of the people for a regional party-led government in the state.

"There has been a demand from the grassroots people for a regional party-led government in Arunachal Pradesh for the sake of development. The people here have seen the development works initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly in the region, and so we unanimously decided to merge with the PPA," Khandu said.

--IANS

ah/pgh/vt