Itanagar: In an unusual turn of events, seven Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates, including Chief Minister Pema Khandu, are anticipated to secure victory in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections without facing any opposition, election officials revealed on Friday.
Following the scrutiny of nominations for the 58 Assembly constituencies, it was observed that no opponents had filed nominations against the BJP candidates in seven seats. As a result, these candidates, including Chief Minister Khandu, are expected to be declared elected unopposed after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations on Saturday.
Apart from Chief Minister Khandu, who is contesting from his conventional seat in Mukto, Tawang, the other six BJP nominees include Techi Ratu (Sagalee), Hage Appa (Ziro-Hapoli), Jikke Tako (Tali), Nyato Dukam (Taliha), Mutchu Mithi (Roing), and Techi Kaso (Itanagar).
The election landscape in Arunachal Pradesh reveals a total of 174 candidates vying for the April 19 elections to the 60-member Assembly. Notably, the ruling BJP boasts 62 candidates (including two substitutes), indicating a significant presence in the electoral fray. The remaining candidates represent various political parties and independents.
Simultaneously, elections for the state’s two Lok Sabha seats—Arunachal West and Arunachal East—are scheduled for April 19, coinciding with the Assembly elections. Notable figures like Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and state Congress President Nabam Tuki are among the contenders.
Following the scrutiny of nomination papers, 14 candidates have been deemed eligible for the Lok Sabha seats, with eight candidates contesting in Arunachal West and six in Arunachal East.
In the 2019 Assembly polls, the BJP secured victory in 41 seats, with an additional seven MLAs from other parties subsequently joining the BJP fold.
The tabulation of votes for the Assembly elections is scheduled for June 2, while the results for the Lok Sabha seats will be announced on June 4.
