BJP’s new mascot in Arunachal Pradesh is Chief Minister Gegong Apang. He along with his number two, Deputy Chief Minister Kameng Delo and all the Congress (D) MLAs joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Apang believes "BJP is the only party which can keep the country united." In his view, it is the only party which is truly a symbol of nationalism.

Apang enrolled himself as the BJP member at a simple function organised at the BJP’s New Delhi headquarters. He said that we have joined BJP for development of Arunachal Pradesh and strengthen the unity of the country. . Minister of State for Home Swamy Chinmayanand and BJP vice president and in charge of North-Eastern affairs Pyarelal Khandelwal, general secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi were among those present on the occasion.

Apang said the North-East has a special significance in the Indian subcontinent. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee understood this and had provided necessary support through various developmental schemes for the region. The Prime Minister had also ensured honest implementation of the scheme, the Chief Minister said. "Today is a special day in his life as Arunachal Pradesh capable of generating 30,000 MW of power is becoming the part of the national mainstream," Apang said.

Union Minister Swamy said as per the special instructions of the Prime Minister, the government was giving special attention towards the development of the region. He said Arunachal would become the centre of transformation in the region and announced that a meeting to review the development programmes would be held at Itanagar on September 26 and 27.

Welcoming Mr Apang and his colleagues to the BJP fold, vice president Khandelwal said BJP was spreading its wings in NE region.

In eight States, the BJP had 57 MLAs out of which 16 were Christians. While in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland BJP is a partners in the ruling coalition, Mizoram and Sikkim Governments support the NDA at the Centre.

RECOGNISED

Assembly Speaker Setong Sena has recognised 31 out of 38 Congress (D) legislators of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF)  as BJP member. The notification in this regard was issued by assembly secretariat

The total strength of the coalition UDF Government is 42:  Thirty-eight of them are congress (D), two independents, one unattached member and lone Arunachal Congress member

Prominent among the new BJP members are Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Ninong Ering, Deputy Chief Minister Kameng Dolo and UDF spokesman Lijum Ronya, who was also leading the State Power (Electrical) Department.

J. T. Takam of Congress (D), who was holding the charges of State Fishery, Labour and Employment departments, refused to join the BJP and preferred to be in the Congress (D), even if he was alone. However, sources within the various parties said that there were some disputes in the UDF Government about their joining the BJP. It was also learnt that some BJP leaders and workers were unhappy and they had expressed their resentment to the party high command.

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