Chief Minister Pema Khandu and 32 other legislators of the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) switched loyalties on the last day of the year, gifting the BJP its first full-fledged government in the North East - though there was one for 44 days in 2003 under Gegong Apang - and the tenth in the country.
In the 60-member House, the BJP strength is now 45 and it has the support of two independents.
The PPA count is down to 10 while the Congress has only three members.
In the last twelve months, the state has had four chief ministers.
Khandu said the people of the state wanted a stable government “in line with” that of Narendra Modi at the Centre.
The Chief Minister assured the state that this would be the last change until the 2019 assembly elections.
Arunachal Pradesh becomes 10th BJP ruled state and 14th with BJP alliances.
Mr Khandu now has the support of 46 MLAs in the 60 member state legislative assembly, way ahead of the 31 seats - the magic number.
This is the second time BJP has come to power in Arunachal. Last time was in 2003 when under almost similar circumstances Gegong Apang took away MLAs from Congress and formed a BJP government only to return to the Congress fold.
