Election results 2024 show that INC has lost as many as 3 seats out of the 4 they had won in 2019 for the Arunachal Vidhan Sabha. The party has also lost 11.29 per cent of its vote share during this period and could get only 5.56 per cent of votes this time. INC had contested only 20 seats, which was in itself a humiliating fact for a political party that had formerly ruled the state for years, until 2016, when the BJP engineered a mass defection in the Congress to topple its government.

National People’s Party (NPP) had also contested on 20 seats, but it emerged as the second biggest political party both in terms of seats and share of votes. NPP won 5 seats, while bagged 16.11 per cent of votes, which was an increase of 1.55 per cent in its support base compared to the last election.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), originally a splinter group from the INC, emerged as the third biggest party in the state by winning 3 seats this time and bagging 10.43 per cent of votes. People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) became the fourth by winning 2 seats this time, an increase of 1 from 2019. It bagged 7.24 per cent of votes, which was a 5.51 per cent increase from the last election. INC had to content with its fifth position.

The relation between the INC and PPA is worth recalling for the sake of understanding the political developments in the state. Tomo Riba of PPA was the second Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for 46 days in 1979 who had succeeded it first Chief Minister P K Thungan who held the post in 1975, after the North-East Frontier Agency, a UT of India, renamed Arunachal Pradesh in 1972 during Indira Gandhi’s premiership. Arunachal Pradesh officially became a state in 1987, during Rajiv Gandhi’s premiership.

The state was put under President’s rule that ended the PPA’s 46 days old rule. Thereafter, election in 1980 brought INC in power with Gegong Apang as chief minister. He remained INC’s chief minister until 1995, but his relationship with the party soured. After the election of 1995 he ruled the state as Arunachal Congress’ Chief Minister and held this post till 1999.

After a short period of political turmoil, Gegong Apang, the Arunachal Congress leader became chief minister after becoming part of United Democratic Front, but soon after joined the BJP, and again rejoined INC, remained Chief Minister until 2007. After the election of 2004, INC’s chief ministers, apart from Apang, were Dorjee Khandu (2007-2011), Jarbom Gamlin(2011), and Nabam Tuki (2011-2016). The state was placed under President rule for 24 days between January 26, 2016 and February 19, 2016.

PPA then took over the reins of Arunachal Pradesh with its Chief Minister Kalikho Pul, who ruled for only 145 days until July 13, 2016. Then a political drama was staged, after which Nabam Tuki of INC became chief minister for only 4 days, from whom Pema Khandu of INC took charge as Chief Minister.

Infighting in INC then worsened, and Pema Khandu left the INC, joined PPA, and remained Chief Minister after September 16, the date when he ceased to be INC member. On December 31, under the BJP’s defection engineering, he joined BJP and remained chief minister. Obviously, Congress failed in keeping its flock together. BJP had won 2019 election and Pema Khandu became chief minister again.

Vidhan Sabha election 2024 Arunachal Pradesh result shows that BJP candidates in as many as in 10 Vidhan Sabha Constituencies – Mukto, Bomdila, Itanagar, Sagalee, Ziro-Hapoli, Tali, Taliha, Roing, Hayunliang, and Chowkham – have managed to get themselves elected unopposed. It is a very serious matter for democracy, which should be noted especially at a time when “One nation, one leader” concept is operating at the top level in the country, being reflected in “One constituency, one leader” in several constituencies, first seen in Gujarat’s Surat Lok Sabha Constituency, and then in 10 Vidhan Sabha constituency in Arunachal Pradesh.

The political manipulation in Arunachal Pradesh by BJP is well pronounced now, and also the failure of the opposition, especially the Congress, in putting break to it after being weakened enough by its own faulty political strategy and priority, and even in protecting its interest in the state in particular and in the entire North East in general.

North East, being a sensitive and strategic region in the country, needs a stronger secular opposition front, and as a the largest political party opposing the BJP,, INC must reformulate its strategy for the North East, the region that has been reeling under communal violences for quite some time. Social unrest in the North East is not in overall India’s interest, where all sorts of anti-national groups have been reported working in the border areas.

BJP must also not play the communal card in the region, since it would also ultimately harm the national interest. Both communal and anti-national forces might be working , as it has been reported several times before, against India from the International Border areas. Even foreign funding into these areas must be closely monitored without exception to any group. Politics in North East is altogether far more different from the rest of India. (IPA Service)