Confusions galore
There will be no dearth of political dramas and intrigues in the coming days in Arunachal Pradesh.

North East News Agency

THOSE who are interested in solving puzzles, it’s time now to look at Arunachal Pradesh. Political uncertainty, forthcoming Assembly elections, struggle for leadership and ego clashes, all combined together have created such a situation never seen before in the strategically important Arunachal. It is difficult to guess what’s in     store for this peaceful North-Eastern State. But one thing is certain that there will be no dearth of political dramas and intrigues in the coming days.

The Governor has sent three different recommendations in as many days. The Centre has still not decided whether to impose President’s Rule in the State or to allow Gegong Apang-led BJP Government to stay as the caretaker government.  Opinions are also divided on whether it’s a constitutional crisis or not. In the midst of all, Arunachal Pradesh became the first victim of the new downsizing law. 

Recently barring couple of lower ranking politicians, the entire political fraternity of Arunachal Pradesh was in Delhi. Gegong Apang, Mukut Mithi, L. Wanglat, Lijum Ronya, — all major players, along with their supporters was camping in Arunachal Bhavan, Samrat Hotel and Ashoka Hotel in the capital. According to capital’s political grapevine, the leaders virtually begged for support for fulfilling their own agendas. But with no such support forthcoming from the Centre, the leaders returned to Arunachal empty handed, which in turn has created further confusion. Mr Mithi wants to oust Mr Apang from power. But his own party colleague and former Union Minister P. K. Thungon wants political rehabilitation at the cost of  Mr. Mithi. Mr. Apang wants to expel Lijum Ronya from the BJP but the later has raised the issue of “Aayarams” and “Gayarams”, forcing the all powerful Arunachal Chief Minister on the back foot. Veteran Omen Deori is also in the scene. On one hand she is trying to reestablish his links with Mr Apang and on the other hand remains as close to Mr. Thungon as ever. Mr. Wanglat is sitting on the fence. To continue as the Chief Minister Mr Apang is not averse of the idea of rejoining the Congress. Mr Mithi may leave the Congress if he is removed as the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president. Mr Ronya may join the Congress if the BJP central leadership does not rein in Mr Apang. Even the MLAs are now weighing options before joining the electoral battle. Many BJP MLAs are ready to switch to the Congress and vice versa for a comfortable victory in the forthcoming Assembly elections in the State. The root of such a complex situation lies in the undemocratic manner in which the governments were toppled in Arunachal Pradesh in recent times. In 1996, Mr Apang effected a split in the Congress to form Arunachal Congress (AC) which formed the government. In 1999, the Congress effected a split in the AC and installed its government led by Mr Mithi, a trusted lieutenant of Mr Apang at that time. But Mr. Apang paid back Mr. Mithi in the same coin when he removed the Congress government by adopting the same tactics with the help of the BJP in 2003. As both sides showed utter disrespect to democratic norms, they are feeling panicky with the change of guard at the Centre although the new government at the Centre, especially its major constituent the Congress has so far given no indication that it wants to topple the Gegong Apang-led BJP Government in the State. The refugee issue is still unresolved. Some parts of the State are virtually under the control of prominent rebel group s of the region. Clearly the fight for personal gains among the politicians at such a juncture does not augur well for the State.

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