In the early months of 2026, the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly convened its fifth session in February, passing a handful of amendment bills that, on the surface, promised administrative refinements. Yet, beneath this veneer of legislative activity lies a troubling pattern: a body more adept at symbolic gestures than substantive solutions.
As the state grapples with entrenched issues like corruption, healthcare deficits, unresolved scandals and unequal development, the assembly’s output reveals a glaring inability to tackle the root causes affecting millions. Critics argue that these sessions amount to little more than procedural theatre, perpetuating the same problems year after year without meaningful resolution.
A legacy of unresolved scandals and governance lapses
One of the most damning indictments of the assembly’s ineffectiveness is its handling — or rather, mishandling — of major scandals that erode public trust.
The Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) paper leakage scam, which exploded into public view years ago, remains a festering wound.
Despite promises from the government to deliver justice, the issue lingers unresolved as of February 2026, marking the third anniversary of key events without closure. This student-centric crisis, described as the state’s biggest such issue, has left aspiring youth disillusioned, with accusations that the administration has failed to stand by its commitments.
The assembly’s sessions, including the recent one, have not prioritised investigative reforms or accountability measures, allowing the scam to symbolise broader systemic rot.
Corruption allegations further compound this narrative of inaction. Chief Minister Pema Khandu has publicly vowed an “iron hand” approach, citing the formation of a high-level Fact-Finding Committee to probe discrepancies in land compensation in districts like Bichom and East Kameng.
However, civil society groups, such as the Arunachal Civil Society (ACS), have raised alarms over growing claims of corruption, unequal distribution of developmental funds, and abuse of public office.
In a February 2026 press conference, ACS highlighted how these failures have eroded public trust, with funds disproportionately allocated and transparency sorely lacking.
Despite assembly discussions on anti-corruption, including references to 142 arrests since 2016, tangible outcomes remain elusive, with no comprehensive anti-graft legislation emerging from recent sessions.
Healthcare and infrastructure: Promises without progress
Healthcare woes exemplify the assembly’s chronic inability to address grassroots problems. MLAs have repeatedly flagged a 12-year stagnation in creating medical posts, resulting in a deficit of over 200 officers in rural and district hospitals.
This shortfall leaves vast swathes of Arunachal Pradesh’s rugged terrain underserved, exacerbating health disparities in a state where over 80% of the population is rural. The February session’s focus on minor bills — like amendments to the Panchayati Raj Act for procedural streamlining — did little to confront this directly, opting instead for bureaucratic tweaks that fail to boost funding or manpower.
Infrastructure and development funds face similar critiques. During question hours, MLAs have lamented inadequate budgets for agriculture, horticulture and road maintenance under schemes like PMGSY, with departments citing perpetual fund shortages.
Underrepresentation and broader systemic failures
Adding to the assembly’s lacklustre record is the persistent underrepresentation of women in electoral politics. Despite constitutional mandates, Arunachal Pradesh continues to lag, with low female participation in polls — an issue that demands urgent legislative action but receives scant attention in sessions.
This mirrors a wider failure to empower marginalised groups, including tribal communities and youth, who face unemployment and skill gaps unaddressed by token initiatives. Historical precedents, such as the 2015-2016 gubernatorial crisis, where the Governor overreached in manipulating assembly proceedings, underscore a recurring theme of instability.
While the Supreme Court intervened then, similar tensions persist, with recent examples in other states highlighting how such overreach erodes democratic norms. In Arunachal, this has translated to an assembly often bogged down in procedural debates rather than problem-solving.
The road ahead: Rhetoric over results?
Proponents of the current administration point to achievements like a 2.6-fold GSDP increase and infrastructure under the Vibrant Villages Programme. Yet, these claims ring hollow against the backdrop of unresolved scandals and daily hardships.
The February bills — amendments to staff selection, panchayati raj and decriminalisation of minor offences — represent incremental changes at best, but they sidestep the bold reforms needed for livelihood enhancement and equitable growth.
Without confronting core issues head-on — through robust anti-corruption laws, healthcare investments, and inclusive policies—Arunachal Pradesh risks perpetuating a cycle of stagnation. The people deserve more than voice votes on minor amendments; they need an assembly that delivers real change, not endless echoes of unfulfilled promises.
