Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains confident of winning ‘more than 20 seats’ from Northeast in the coming general elections, there seem to be hiccups on the way. Just ahead of elections, the spate of resignations in the saffron party has taken the electorate by surprise.

On Tuesday, BJP general secretary from Arunachal Pradesh, Jarpum Gamlin who had resigned after being denied a ticket switched side to the National People’s Party (NPP) along with eight sitting legislators including two sitting ministers - Kumar Waii and Jarkar Gamlin.

“The choice was between choosing my party and my people whom I was leading for the last 3 years, and I chose my people. In electoral politics, you represent the people. And I chose my people over the party. I was taken by surprise as till March 7, I was still a part of the BJP poll committee,” said Jarpum, the aspiring candidate who had been serving the people of Liromba in his career with BJP.

Home Minister Kumar Waii has been replaced by Goruk Podung from the Bameng seat, while Kento Jeni replaced Tourism Minister and Jarpum’s elder brother, Jarkom Gamlin from Along east.

“I want my voice and message to reach Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If it’s Modi’s vision, then it’s alright, but if it’s the vision of Arunachal CM Pema Khandu, I can say that BJP can never move forward. Arunachal is a secular state with different ethnicity and tribes living together, but BJP follows a single religion. Their ideology is deceiving. We are happy to join NPP today,” said Waii.

Meanwhile, Conrad Sangma-led NPP has grown in strength in Arunachal with 28 new members including those from BJP. Thomas Sangma, NPP national general secretary welcomed the new members calling it a 'historic day'– besides Waii and the Gamlin brothers, the other sitting MLAs are Tapuk Taku, Pani Taram, Paknga Bage, Wangling Lowangdong, Thangam Wangham and Kardo Nigyor.

NPP had earlier made it clear that there would be no pre-poll alliance with any party.

On the other hand, it was a homecoming for BJP’s vice president in Tripura and former Congress legislator, Subal Bhowmick who quit the party and joined Congress on Tuesday. Bhowmick, who was instrumental in BJP’s win from Tripura, looks forward to contesting from West Tripura Lok Sabha seat.

“I welcome him wholeheartedly. He was feeling suffocated in the BJP – he felt insulted and realized that the party was not the reflection of the character of Tripura. Any decision on his candidature will be taken by the Congress president in consultation with the High Command,” said Pradyot Manikya Debbarma, Tripura Congress president.

Speaking to News 18 from Agartala, Debbarma said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s rally tomorrow will outgrow Prime Minister Modi’s election rallies in the state. The Congress is intensely trying to regain lost ground in Tripura and other Northeastern states.

“I want to change political scenario in my state - no criminal, mafia or goondas- women will be in the forefront. I want to work for a new Tripura.”

At present, when many are resigning and switching sides, critics say a great deal can change for the BJP between now and poll day. All parties are heavily relying on young, first-time voters.

First Published:Mar 20, 2019 9:48 AM IST