Khandu inducts BJP MLA in cabinet

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, Oct 14: The BJP in Aruchal Pradesh today officially became a part of the PPA government, a constituent partner of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), with induction of senior BJP MLA Tamiyo Taga in the council of ministers. With this induction Aruchal Pradesh became the 14th state having a coalition government.

Governor V Shanmugathan administered the oath and office secrecy to Taga in presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu and his cabinet colleagues besides, civil and police officials in a simple function organised in the Darbar Hall of the Rajbhawan.

However, Khandu axed Industries, Textiles & Handicrafts and Cooperation Minister Tapang Taloh from the cabinet to accommodate Taga. Later talking to reporters Khandu said, “It is a part and parcel of the system. One has to be dropped to accommodate another.’

Khandu was sworn in as the state chief minister on July 16 this year after months of political turmoil replacing bam Tuki who, was reinstated as the state chief minister by the Apex Court on July 14.

Khandu staged a dramatic exodus of Congress lawmakers and joined the PPA, a BJP ally with 43 MLAs on September 16 last, 65 days after the Supreme Court reinstated the Congress government in the state on July 13 last.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu paraded 42 MLAs before Assembly Speaker Tenzing Norbu Thongdok, who accepted the merger.

In a house of 60 members, now PPA has 44 MLAs, BJP has 11, Congress 3 and 2 independents. While Congress MLAs Gabriel Deng Wangsu and Wanglin Sawin were reinstated as the member of the Sixth Legislative Assembly by Speaker Tenzing Norbu Thongdok on September 23 last after the Gauhati High Court directed the Speaker to take up their case under Constitutiol provisions.

Both the MLAs have put in their papers before the recent series of political developments that led to first Tuki government falling in January this year, imposition of President’s rule and installation of the late Kalikho Pul government on February 19 for a short span.