Arunachal: 90% BJP workers in Mebo resign from party

In a major setback to BJP in 39th Mebo Assembly Constituency in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, almost 90 percent of BJP office bearers from various morchas tendered their resignations to the state BJP President on Tuesday.

This mass exodus comes in solidarity with their preferred candidate, Oken Tayeng, who was overlooked for a BJP ticket by both state and central BJP authorities.

Prior to the announcement of Lombo Tayeng as the BJP candidate for the 39th Mebo Assembly Constituency, local BJP officials and grassroot workers urged the state BJP high leadership to consider candidates from inside the party, barring Lombo Tayeng. However, their requests were overlooked, resulting in considerable unhappiness among party members in the constituency.

The mass resignations reflect the BJP party’s grassroot workers’ strong discontent with the party’s high command’s decision. The move indicates a serious split in the constituency’s party ranks.

The resigning BJP office bearers and supporters are now determined to challenge and vote out Lombo Tayeng in the upcoming election.

Some long-serving BJP leaders who resigned today claim that Lombo Tayeng received the BJP ticket from New Delhi with the help of a BJP MP candidate who has contacts with prominent central leaders. They accuse Lombo Tayeng of accepting bribes to earn the ticket, raising concerns about corruption and nepotism inside the party.

Disgruntled grassroots BJP members criticized the act, claiming that corruption and nepotism had permeated the BJP, undermining its reputation as an honest party.

In response to the BJP’s rejection, the resigned workers have shifted their allegiance to the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA), a regional and indigenous party in Arunachal Pradesh.

 Their leader, Oken Tayeng, has announced his candidacy on the PPA ticket, pitting him against the BJP’s Lombo Tayeng.