Nabam Tuki, the President of Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), has leveled serious allegations against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.
Tuki claimed that BJP resorted to financial inducements to sway Congress candidates in its favor during the assembly elections.
According to Tuki, several Congress candidates withdrew their nomination papers after being tempted by significant financial benefits offered by the ruling party. Initially fielding 34 candidates in the 60 assembly seats, the Congress now finds itself with only 19 contenders remaining in the electoral fray.
Tuki, a six-time MLA from the Sagalee constituency in Papum Pare district and current Lok Sabha candidate from Arunachal West parliamentary constituency, did not mince words in accusing the BJP of employing underhanded tactics.
“This is not a surprise… The ruling party has made all efforts to win the elections. It is an open secret that the BJP candidates are using money to purchase our candidates,” The veteran Congress leader alleged. Talking to reporters after releasing the party’s manifesto here, Tuki, a six-time MLA from Sagalee constituency in Papum Pare district confidently said that whatever ploy being used by the BJP, the Congress will win in maximum seats.
“We are confident of winning in all the 19 seats where our candidates are contesting,” Tuki said.
Responding to queries regarding potential alliances, Tuki hinted at the Congress's openness to collaborating with any party that upholds secular principles, though he refrained from divulging specific names.
Despite facing challenges such as BJP's uncontested wins in ten seats, including Tuki's own Sagalee constituency, the seasoned Congress leader remained undeterred.
When asked whether the party would suffer a setback as the ruling BJP already won ten seats uncontested including the Sagalee seat which he is representing, by newcomer Ratu Techi, Tuki said that this is not a new thing in Arunachal Pradesh.
“The Congress in the state won eleven seats unopposed during the 2014 assembly elections,” he added.
Tuki further underscored the volatility of political allegiances in Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting the potential for swift changes in the state's political landscape contingent upon outcomes at the national level.
He emphasised the fluid nature of political dynamics, asserting that Congress harbors no animosity towards its erstwhile members now aligned with the BJP.
The senior Congress leader said that if the INDIA Bloc returns to power at the Centre, the government in the state would also change instantly, which he termed as a ‘common factor’ in Arunachal Pradesh.
“If Congress returns to power at the Centre, you will see that there will be no space to stand at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan as all the BJP MLAs will join Congress immediately,” he said and added that politics is a game and Congress never treats anyone as enemy.
“All the present MLAs and ministers of the BJP in the state are originally from the Congress. It is natural as Arunachal is a resource-crunch state and entirely dependent on New Delhi,” he said.
As questions lingered over the potential impact of electoral outcomes on Tuki's political future, the former chief minister exuded confidence, citing his track record of service and the support garnered from the electorate.
“People have witnessed my contribution to the state in various capacities and have full faith in me. I am sure that they will also support me this time,” the former chief minister added.
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