Itanagar, June 2 (UNI): The Bharatiya Janata Party retained power in Arunachal Pradesh for the third consecutive term by securing a landslide victory in the Assembly elections as the BJP secured 46 seats, including 10 uncontested and even bettering its last count.
As per the ECI data, the BJP improved its previous performance in 2019 when it bagged 41 seats.
Opposition Congress, which had bagged four seats in the previous election, managed to get only one seat this time. The counting took place on Sunday in 24 counter centres across the state.
The Conrad Sangma-led National People’s Party (NPP) emerged as the second-largest party by equaling its previous record of five, while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) bagged three and two seats respectively. Three Independent nominees also won the battle of ballots.
Prominent winners from amongst the BJP candidates include party’s State president Biyuram Wahge (Pakke-Kessang), Deputy Speaker Tesam Pongte (Changlang North), sitting Ministers Alo Libang (Tuting-Yingkiong), Mama Natung (Seppa West), Wangki Lowang (Namsang), Honchun Ngandam (Pongchau-Wakka), and Nakap Nalo (Nacho), Ninong Ering (Pasighat West), and Wanglin Lowangdong (Borduria-Bogapani), Gabriel Denwang Wangsu (Kanubari), Rode Bui (Dumporijo), Balo Raja (Palin), Chakat Aboh (Khonsa West), Tsering Lhamu (Lumla), Dr Mohesh Chai (Tezu), Pani Taram (Koloriang), Kardo Nyigyor (Likabali), and Hayeng Mangfi (Chayangtajo).
The Congress nominee who had the last laugh is former Home Minister Kumar Waii, re-capturing his Bameng seat and defeating BJP’s Doba Lamnio with a margin of 635 votes.
The prominent among the losers are Education Minister Taba Tedir from Yachuli constituency, former CM Gegong Apang (Nari-Koyu) from newly floated Arunachal Democratic Party, former Ministers Lombo Tayeng (Mebo), Tanga Byaling (Nacho) and Tapang Taloh (Pangin), and sitting legislators Kaling Moyong (Pasighat East) and Nyamar Karbak (Liromoba).
There are also so many new faces among the winners. They are BJP’s Hamjong Tangha from Changlang South, Puinnyo Apum (Dambuk), Rotom Tebin (Raga), Topin Ete from Aalo (West), Ealing Tallang from Seppa (East), and Tai Nikio (Nyapin), NCP’s Toko Tatung (Yachuli), and NPP’s Namgey Tsering (Tawang), Tapi Darang (Pasighat East) and Independent Tenzin Nyima Glow (Thrizino-Buragaon).
The NPP’s winning candidates include Pesi Jilen, who secured Liromoba defeating BJP’s Nyamar Karbak by 1698 votes, Namgey Tsering got Tawang seat trouncing BJP’s Tsering Dorjee with a margin of 996 votes, and Oni Panyang captured Mariyang-Geku defeating Olom Panyang of BJP by 673 votes.
PPA’s Nabam Vivek got Doimukh, unseating BJP’s Tana Hali Tara with a margin of 2,530 votes, and Oken Tayeng secured Mebo, routing BJP’s Lombo Tayeng by 1,017 votes.
NCP’s Toko Tatung emerged as a giant killer defeating his nearest rival, sitting BJP Minister Taba Tedir in the Yachuli seat with a margin of 228 votes.
Independents Wanglam Sawin and Laisam Simai, who were denied BJP tickets, emerged victors retaining their respective seats – Khonsa (East) and Nampong.
Sawin defeated his nearest rival Kamrang Tesia of BJP with a margin of 2,216 votes, while Simai beat Izmir Tikhak of the Saffron party by a slender margin of 68 votes.
