Arunachal: Dissidents claim more Cong MLAs to join them

Dissident Congress leader in Arunachal Pradesh Kalikho Pul today claimed that more party MLAs are in touch with them and their numbers will increase.
"More Congress MLAs are in touch with us and our numbers are definitely going to increase," Pul, who was elected as Chief Minister in the December 17 Assembly session held in 'makeshift premises', told a press conference here.
There are 47 Congress MLAs in the 60-member house and 21 of them, along with 11 BJP and two Independent MLAs, are supporting Pul.
The Assembly session was advanced to December 16 from January 14 by Governor J P Rajkhowa, which led to a political crisis in the state.

"I am the leader of 34 MLAs who have reposed their faith in me and Tuki has 26 members with him now. So who is the leader of the House? Inside the Assembly, numbers matter and we have the numbers with us," Pul said.
Asked whether they were planning to join the BJP, the dissident leader said that he was a Congressman and since 1995 he has been winning elections on the party ticket.

"The BJP is also angry with Speaker Nabam Rebia and they had moved for his impeachment and we supported their stand.
"I have never indulged in anti-party activity. The present crisis is an example of inner party democracy. We are knocking at the doors of the high command to apprise them of the level of corruption and lack of development in Arunachal Pradesh," he said.

"We are all in the Congress and we will not leave the party. It is the chief minister and a section of the state party leadership that is giving wrong feedback to the party high command," Pul alleged.
The MLAs opposed to the Chief minister had camped in New Delhi for two months to meet party president and vice-president Sonia and Rahul Gandhi respectively.
"Maybe due to their busy schedule they could not meet us. The High Command is our parent and if they call us even now, we will go to meet them," Pul added.