Arunachal- 549 Panchayati Raj Leaders join BJP in Seppa
Seppa
With the erstwhile PPA Government in Arunachal Pradesh merging with BJP on December 31st last year, saffronization of the state began in a pompous note here at Seppa, headquarters of East Kameng district. A total of 549 Panchayati Raj leaders, mostly Congress, swore allegiance to the saffron party BJP in presence of state BJP President Tapir Gao, Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Union MoS Home Kiren Rijiju.
Present on the occasion were the four (out of five) legislators of the district – Home Minister Kumar Waii and Parliamentary Secretaries Karya Bagang, Mama Natung and Tapuk Taku.
The detail of the PR leaders who joined BJP today are; 8-Bameng Assembly constituency: 2 ZPMs, 34 ASMs, 135 GPMs (total 171); 9-Chayangtajo Assembly constituency: 4 ZPMs, 38 ASMs, 122 GPMs (total 164); 10-Seppa East Assembly constituency: 2 ZPMs, 15 ASMs, 50 GPMs (total 67); 11-Seppa West Assembly constituency: 3 ZPMs, 25 ASMs, 80 GPMs (total 108); and 12-Pakkekesang Assembly constituency: 3 ZPMs, 11 ASMs, 28 GPMs (total 42).
Welcoming the PR leaders into BJP, Chief Minister Pema Khandu termed the day as historic. He informed that in the first executive meeting held at Itanagar after merging into BJP, it was decided that a process may be initiated to welcome all PR leaders into BJP across the state.
“Our (government’s) joining the BJP will not be complete till all PR leaders pose faith on the party and join it voluntarily. I am sure before 20th February (Statehood Day) all PR leaders of the state will join BJP and strengthen the government to the optimum,” Khandu asserted.
Heaping praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and MoS Home Kiren Rijiju for their concern for Arunachal Pradesh, Khandu said that in all his three interactions with the Prime Minister, Modi had given him specific directions to take each and every scheme of the government to the grassroot.
“Our grass root is the panchayati raj leaders. Through them only we can successfully implement all welfare schemes of the government,” he said while exuding confidence that with the joining of PR leaders into the party a smooth mechanism to evolve for benefit of the rural populace.
“Without Modiji Pema Khandu is incomplete. Without Rijiju Pema Khandu is incomplete. Without Tapir Gao Pema Khandu is incomplete. And without the PR leaders and the common people Pema Khandu is incomplete,” Khandu said.
Rijiju while welcoming the PR leaders into BJP appealed all to maintain bonhomie and work to strengthen the government both at the center and the state.
“Please avoid the tags ‘Old BJP- New BJP’! Now we are all one family. There may be differences within members of a family but that does not mean we break away from the family,” he said.
On behalf of the Central Government, Rijiju assured all out support to the state government in developing every district of the state.
“I can tell you within the last two years so many road projects have been sanctioned for East Kameng that did not happen in the last 17 years!” he informed.
Rijiju called for cooperation with the state government and promised that he will be the ‘bridge’ between the central government and the state government.
He hailed Khandu saying despite being the youngest chief minister of the state his ideas were fresh.
“Khandu’s ideas and commitment to work for the people and the state are unlimited. I can say with conviction that under his rule the state will develop like never before,” Rijiju said.
Meanwhile, as the State President of the BJP, Tapir Gao formally accepted the joining of the 549 panchayati raj leaders of the district.
Also present on the occasion were various state and district BJP leaders.
