BJP tickets in Arunachal given based on 'winnability' of candidates: Tapir Gao

Guwahati, March 19, 2019:

Much to the headache of BJP Chief Tapir Gao, the BJP’s control over the frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh is in serious jeopardy due to the alleged departure of twelve MLAs and as many as three Ministers who are rumored to be holding talks with Conrad Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP).

This nightmare for the BJP began as soon as the BJP announced the Assembly election tickets and many of the party faithful, including state General Secretary Jarpum Gamlin, were dropped like hot potatoes by the party. His brother, Jarjum Gamlin, a serving Minister too was not given a ticket which has come as a shock to many.

Amid the circulating rumors of the BJP members leaving an apparently sinking BJP ship in Arunachal, state BJP Chief spoke exclusively to InsideNE. “BJP has decided and the decision has been taken in the Parliamentary board on their ‘winnability’. If the Ministers and MLAs have been denied, it is solely due to their winnability in their own Constituencies. The collective decisions have been taken by the Parliamentary board on the basis of their winnability in the elections.”

On the joining of NPP by the 12 MLAs, 2 Ministers and Jarjum Gamlin, Gao said: “After denying ticket to them, it is their wisdom to go to any political party, but I have asked the leaders to stay calm, but if they cross the limit, they are free to go wherever they want. Tickets were not denied for personal reasons.”

Addressing the PRC issue that has rocked the state of Arunachal, he said: “PRC issue was cooked issue by our opponents in the time of elections and it has no impact in Arunachal elections because the public knows that this is an orchestra by the opposition. But the people of Arunachal Pradesh have rejected their movement and attempts and activities.”