Itanagar, Aug 24: MLA from Itanagar constituency, Techi Kaso, the lone MLA of the JD(U) in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly  has switched over to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday. Deputy Speaker in Assembly, Tesam Pongte, accepted the Itanagar legislator's merger with the saffron party. With the switchover, the BJP's strength in the 60-member House is now 49.
This comes days after the Bihar Chief Minister severed ties with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance to realign with the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and install a new government in the state.
Confirming the latest political development, the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretariat on Wednesday issued a bulletin regarding ‘change of party affiliation’ as required under Rule 4 of the ‘Members of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1987’.
The BJP had won 41 seats in the 2019 elections, while the new entrant JD(U) secured seven seats to emerge as the second largest party after the BJP. However, in December 2020, six of the seven JD(U) MLAs had shifted loyalty to the Saffron party.
The JD(U) legislators who jump-shifted were Talem Taboh from Rumgong constituency, Hayeng Mangfi (Chayang Tajo), Jikke Tako (Tali), Dorjee Wangdi Kharma (Kalaktang), Dongru Siongju (Bomdila) and Kanggong Taku from Mariyang-Geku. The lone lawmaker from the regional People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA), Kardo Nyigyor from Likabali constituency, had also joined the BJP at that time.
In the 60-member House, the Opposition Congress and the National People’s Party (NPP) have four members each. There are also three Independents. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
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