10 of 11 turncoats who joined BJP post big wins in Arunachal polls

GUWAHATI: Ten of the 11 turncoat MLAs, who emerged triumphant in the 2019 assembly elections on tickets from Congress and other parties but later joined BJP to contest on saffron tickets, registered big wins in the Arunachal Pradesh assembly polls.
While the opposition parties have alleged that these MLAs switched allegiances due to “intimidation” from BJP and to retain their seats, BJP in-charge for Arunachal Pradesh Ashok Singhal said they joined BJP voluntarily.“There was no coercion. People are gravitating towards BJP because they knew that the BJP government is fulfilling the aspirations of Arunachal,” Singhal said.
Former Union minister Ninong Ering (Pasighat West) and Wanglin Lowangdong (Borduria-Bogapani), who were Congress MLAs in the last assembly, emerged victorious on BJP tickets. Former Congress legislature party leader Lombo Tayeng, however, faced a setback. After defecting to BJP, Tayeng lost the election from Mebo constituency against Oken Tayeng of People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA).
Hayeng Mangfi, MLA, who switched allegiance from JDU to BJP in 2020, along with five other JDU MLAs, won from Chayangtajo constituency. Jikke Tako, one of those MLAs, secured a BJP ticket and won uncontested from Tali constituency. Talem Taboh who switched loyalty from JDU to BJP, won from the Rumgong constituency. Dongru Siongju (Bomdila), one of those five, won uncontested.
Techi Kaso, one of the seven JDU MLAs who won in 2019, also won unopposed on a BJP ticket from Itanagar constituency. Mutchu Mithi, who defected from NPP to BJP, had won uncontested from the Roing seat. However, Gokar Basar, who rejoined NPP after being denied a ticket by BJP following his defection to the saffron party, was defeated by BJP’s Nyabi Jini Dirchi in Basar constituency.
Kardo Nyigyor, who joined BJP following his exit from PPA, won from Likabali (ST) constituency. Chakat Aboh, Independent MLA who joined BJP to secure a ticket, won from Khonsa West seat.