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Arunachal ministry reduced to minority
Itanagar, July 27: In a dramatic turn to dissidence in ruling Congress in Arunachal Pradesh, the Mukut Mithi ministry was today reduced to a minority when 31 party MLAs broke ranks and formed a new outfit as well as a new coalition under the leadership of former chief minister Geong Apang to stake claim to form a new government.
Itanagar, July 27: In a dramatic turn to dissidence in ruling Congress in Arunachal Pradesh, the Mukut Mithi ministry was today reduced to a minority when 31 party MLAs broke ranks and formed a new outfit as well as a new coalition under the leadership of former chief minister Geong Apang to stake claim to form a new government.
There are 17 ministers among the breakaway Congress legislators who set up Congress (D) and formed United Democratic Alliance (UDF) with two associate and one unattached members and one Arunachal Congress legislator in Gegong Apang.
At an emergency meeting, the UDF elected Apang as its leader.
Raj Bhavan source said Apang would meet the Governor V C Pandey to stake his claim to form a government. The sources also said 17 ministers in the Mukut Mithi cabinet have submitted their resignations to the governor.
Thingpoing Wangham, rural works minister in Mithi cabinet who is now the secretary of Congress (D), today submitted a letter signed by all the 31 defected Congress MLAs to the assembly speaker Tamiyo Taga.
The strength of the UDF is 35 in the 60-member house where Congress` strength stands slashed from 56 to 25.
Gegong Apang, who was the Chief Minister of the state since 1980, was toppled by Mukut Mithi in january 1999 prior to the assembly election the same year.
In the elections, Mithi returned to power with thumping majority and assumed office on October 11, 1999.
Mithi felt the wind of dissension only last year when he dropped Kameng Dolo from his council of ministers. Dolo was chosen as the president of newly-formed Congress(D).
The dissidence in Congress has been brewing following Mithi`s crackdown against politician-militancy nexus in the state.
In April last, police arrested Congress MLA Wanglat under the Arunachal Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act. He was expelled from the party about a fortnight ago.
Wanglat, who was elected from NSCN-infested Tirap district, was chosen as the secretary of the new coalition UDF.
Bureau Report
At an emergency meeting, the UDF elected Apang as its leader.
Raj Bhavan source said Apang would meet the Governor V C Pandey to stake his claim to form a government. The sources also said 17 ministers in the Mukut Mithi cabinet have submitted their resignations to the governor.
Thingpoing Wangham, rural works minister in Mithi cabinet who is now the secretary of Congress (D), today submitted a letter signed by all the 31 defected Congress MLAs to the assembly speaker Tamiyo Taga.
The strength of the UDF is 35 in the 60-member house where Congress` strength stands slashed from 56 to 25.
Gegong Apang, who was the Chief Minister of the state since 1980, was toppled by Mukut Mithi in january 1999 prior to the assembly election the same year.
In the elections, Mithi returned to power with thumping majority and assumed office on October 11, 1999.
Mithi felt the wind of dissension only last year when he dropped Kameng Dolo from his council of ministers. Dolo was chosen as the president of newly-formed Congress(D).
The dissidence in Congress has been brewing following Mithi`s crackdown against politician-militancy nexus in the state.
In April last, police arrested Congress MLA Wanglat under the Arunachal Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act. He was expelled from the party about a fortnight ago.
Wanglat, who was elected from NSCN-infested Tirap district, was chosen as the secretary of the new coalition UDF.
Bureau Report