Arunachal crisis: 43 Congress MLAs, including CM Pema Khandu, join PPA; Rijiju says don't blame BJP

Two months after the Supreme Court reinstated the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh, the party again faces the prospect of losing its government. In a mass exodus, all but one of the 45 Congress MLAs have joined the People's Party of Arunachal. Nabam Tuki is the only lawmaker who has stayed with the Congress.

As it happened:

#If the CM and ministers have to wait for days to meet their own leadership in Delhi. How can they stay in such party?: Kiren Rijiju, MoS Home

#Congress shouldn't blame BJP for its own failure: Kiren Rijiju, MoS Home on Arunachal Pradesh crisis

#The (Arunachal Pradesh)CM & MLAs have consciously decided to merge with regional party,BJP has nothing to do with this-Kiren Rijiju,MoS Home

Sources said Khandu, who two months ago became chief minister in a development that restored the Congress government, along with 43 Congress MLAs joined the PPA and virtually converted it into a PPA government.

The only MLA who has stayed with the Congress is Nabam Tuki, who was replaced as Chief Minister when the Congress, in an effort to control the rebellion in its ranks replaced him with Khandu in July.

It remains to be seen whether the PPA will align with BJP, which has 11 MLAs in the House. In the Assembly of 60, Congress had 47 MLAs, BJP 11 and two independent. Status of two Congress MLAs are yet to be decided as they put in their papers before the recent series of political developments that led to first Tuki government falling in January 2016, imposition of President’s rule and installation of the late Kalikho Pul government for a short span.

Pul, a Congress MLA and had committed suicide last month, was forced to resign in July following a Supreme Court judgement. 
(With PTI inputs)