The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a resounding victory in Arunachal Pradesh by winning 46 seats in the 60-member Assembly, marking a significant achievement in the elections held on April 19. This win represents an increase of five seats compared to the 2019 elections. Notably, ten of these seats were won uncontested before the polls commenced.
Vote counting, which began at 6 a.m., concluded late Sunday afternoon, confirming BJP’s third consecutive term in power. The National People’s Party (NPP) retained its five seats, winning in Liromoba, Longding-Pumao, Mariyang, Pasighat (East), and Tawang. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) secured three seats, with victories in Bordumsa-Diyun, Lekang, and Yachuli.
The People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) managed to win two seats, Doimukh and Mebo. Independent candidates Wanglam Sawin, Laisam Simai, and Tenzin Nyima Glow won the Khonsa (East), Nampong, and Thrizino-Buragaon seats, respectively. The Congress, fielding candidates in 19 seats, secured only the Bameng seat, where candidate Kumar Waii defeated BJP’s Doba Lamnio by a margin of 635 votes.
Elections for the remaining 50 Assembly seats were held concurrently with the Lok Sabha elections in two Parliamentary constituencies—Arunachal West and Arunachal East—following the BJP’s unopposed wins in 10 seats. Chief Minister Pema Khandu was elected unopposed from the Mukto Assembly seat, and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein from the Chowkham (ST) seat.
Eight other BJP nominees who were elected unopposed include Dasanglu Pul (Hayuliang-ST), Dongru Siongju (Bomdila), Techi Ratu (Sagalee), Hage Appa (Ziro-Hapoli), Jikke Tako (Tali), Nyato Dukam (Taliha), Mutchu Mithi (Roing), and Techi Kaso (Itanagar).
Pema Khandu, a prominent leader from the Monpa community, has been elected to the state Assembly for the fourth time. Khandu first formed a BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh in 2016 after defecting from the Congress to the People’s Party of Arunachal and subsequently joining the BJP.
The tenure of the outgoing Assembly ends on June 2. Voter turnout was impressive, with 78 percent recorded for the Parliamentary polls and 83 percent for the Assembly elections on April 19. A total of 133 candidates contested the 50 Assembly seats, while 14 candidates vied for the two Parliamentary constituencies. Vote counting for the Parliamentary seats is scheduled for June 4, in line with the national schedule.
