Rebel Congress MLAs in Arunachal Pradesh refuse to attend meet to defuse crisis

Trouble mounted within the ruling Congress in Arunachal Pradesh as 21 MLAs opposed to the leadership of Chief Minister Nabam Tuki have decided to skip a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting tomorrow to resolve the crisis in the state unit.

The CLP meeting has been convened by AICC general secretary V Narayanswamy, Secretary Dr Jayakumar and Arunachal Pradesh Congress committee (APCC).

Tuki has been facing open rebellion from a section of Congress MLAs for close to two months now. The rebels are camping in New Delhi as they seek a change in the political leadership alleging gross mismanagement of funds.

A signed statement by the 'dissident group' yesterday claimed that "there are already differences of opinion with regard to autocratic way of functioning and disrespect for inner democracy of the party".

Denouncing Tuki's legitimacy as the CLP leader, the 21 MLAs said that "any meeting called under his leadership does not carry any substance and holds no water".

The statement came a day after veteran Congress MLA Kameng Dolo resigned from his post as principal advisor to the chief minister and chairman of the state council for IT and e-governance.

Dolo said he was resigning because of "trust deficit" and "ideological differences" with the state leadership.

The state has seen a series of resignations recently by rebel MLAs from various official posts, most notably that of Pema Khandu, who quit from his position as tourism minister last week.

Those who signed the statement were: Kalikho Pul, Chowna Mein, Kumar Waii, Kameng Dolo, Kamlung Mossang, Wanglin Lowangdong, TN Thongdok, CT Mein, Thangwang Wangham, Wangki Lowang, Lombo Tayeng, Jarkar Gamlin, Phosum Khimhun, Honchun Ngandam, PD Sona, Markio Tado, Pema Khandu, Wanglam Sawin, Zignu Namchoom, Mutchu Mithi and Gabriel D Wangsu.