Arun Chaubey

Situated in north east of India, Arunachal has, from time to time, surprised the rest of the nation with unexpected twists & turns in its politics. Presently, the state has no opposition as out of the 60-member assembly, ruling Congress has 45 members while 13 Independents and two Arunachal Congress MLAs have extened support to it.

Besides, prior to the D-Day, three members, including Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, were elected unopposed. Thus, surpising its opponents and partners, the Congress has decided to go it alone.

Other parties like the BJP and NCP, Trinamool Congress, People’s Party of Arunachal and Janata Dal (United) are also in the fray. But if we talk about alliance, the rest of the parties too seem to be prepared for individual battles before election.

The two parties which are alliance partners of the UPA government at Centre- NCP and Trinamool Congress- are campaigning against Congress in the state, claiming they have the blessings of Sonia Gandhi.

This has irked the AICC general secretary in charge of Arunachal Pradesh and Union Minister V Narayansami, who said, "The Congress will thwart all attempts by NCP and Trinamool Congress to project themselves as enjoying the patronage of Sonia Gandhi while opposing official Congress nominees."

He further added, "Both the parties are opposition parties just like the BJP and the People`s Party of Arunachal, and Congress has no pre-poll alliance with either of them."

As many as 154 candidates are in the fray and of them 57 belong to Congress. Trinamool Congress is contesting from 26 seats while NCP has fielded 36 candidates and is supporting five others. The BJP is contesting in 18 seats.