Guwahati, Dec 30 (HT) : The ruling Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) on Friday is likely to name Takam Pario, the richest MLA in Arunachal Pradesh with declared assets of Rs 187 crore, as its leader in the assembly as well as the chief minister of the northeastern state, a senior party leader said.
In a sudden move late on Thursday night, Pema Khandu, his deputy Chowna Mein and five other legislators of ruling Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) were suspended temporarily for alleged anti-party activities. The MLAs who have been suspended are Jambey Tashi, Pasang Dorjee Sona, Chow Tewa Mein, Zingnu Namchom and Kamlung Mossang.
Khandu, who had become chief minister in July, had deserted Congress along with 42 other MLAs to join PPA in September. The party is a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).
“There were complaints by most MLAs that Khandu and six other legislators were indulging in activities which were hurting PPA. Hence, it was decided to suspend them,” PPA chairman Kamen Ringu told Hindustan Times.
Sources within the party say there were differences as some felt Khandu and the other suspended MLAs were ‘getting cosy’ with the BJP, a coalition partner of the PPA.
Khandu, son of late chief minister Dorjee Khandu, has been removed as the legislature party leader of PPA and directions have been issued to all MLAs not to attend meetings summoned by him.
The party intimated assembly Speaker T Norbu Thongdok about the decision and requested him to declare all suspended MLAs as unattached members and make separate seating arrangements for them inside the House.
Governor V Shanmuganathan has also been apprised of the development.
While Khandu wasn’t available for comments, deputy CM Chowna Mein and few of the other suspended MLAs termed the allegations of anti-party activities as baseless and motivated.
“This is a blow from the back to upset a stable government which has been working sincerely for the state’s development. We were not given any intimation or asked for explanations,” Mein told HT.
Arunachal Pradesh has witnessed a lot of political drama this year. In February, senior minister Kalikho Pul deserted the Congress government of Nabam Tuki with 24 MLAs to form a PPA government.
His government was, however, removed after a Supreme Court verdict reinstated Tuki. But with most Congress MLAs backing Khandu, Tuki had to make way for the 37-year-old as the new chief minister in July.
A dejected Pul committed suicide at his official residence in Itanagar in August. A month later, Khandu and 42 other Congress MLAs deserted the party to join the PPA and the BJP became part of the government in October.