The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Arunachal Pradesh has received a massive shock when their 14 leaders, including two ministers and 12 MLAs, left the party on Tuesday and joined the National People's Party (NPP).
In the Assembly elections held in the state, this step has been taken to leave the party on a large scale after BJP's state general secretary Jarbom Gamlin, Home Minister Kumar Y, Tourism Minister Jarkar Gamlin, and several legislators were not given tickets.
The BJP Parliamentary Board has stamped the names of the nominees for 54 out of 60 assembly seats in the state. Legislative elections are being held in the state on April 11 with the Lok Sabha.
On Monday, Jarapum Gamlin sent his resignation to the BJP's Arunachal unit president Tapir Gao. He is in Guwahati since Monday morning, where Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma met him.
"Jarpum, Jarkar, Kumar Waii and the 12 sitting MLAs of the BJP met the NPP general secretary Thomas Sangma on Tuesday and joined the NPP," a senior NPP leader said in Guwahati, adding that the party is very hopeful that the inclusion of these leaders would strengthen the party.
Meanwhile, the NPP has decided to launch its candidates in all the 25 parliamentary seats of the North-Eastern states. The party has released a list of Meghalaya candidates. The list of other seats will be released soon.