Itanagar: Ten of the eleven MLAs who defected from Congress and other parties to join the BJP ahead of the 2019 assembly elections secured significant victories in the Arunachal Pradesh assembly polls. Opposition parties claim these MLAs switched allegiances due to “intimidation” from the BJP to retain their seats. However, Ashok Singhal, BJP in-charge for Arunachal Pradesh, asserted that they joined the BJP voluntarily.

“There was no coercion. People are gravitating towards the BJP because they see that the BJP government is fulfilling the aspirations of Arunachal,” Singhal said.

Notable wins include former Congress MLAs Ninong Ering (Pasighat West) and Wanglin Lowangdong (Borduria-Bogapani), who were victorious on BJP tickets. In contrast, former Congress legislature party leader Lombo Tayeng, who defected to the BJP, lost his seat in Mebo constituency to Oken Tayeng of the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA).

Hayeng Mangfi, who switched from JDU to BJP in 2020 along with five other JDU MLAs, won from Chayangtajo constituency. Among them, Jikke Tako won uncontested from Tali constituency, and Talem Taboh won from Rumgong constituency. Dongru Siongju (Bomdila) also secured an uncontested win.

Techi Kaso, another JDU defector, won unopposed on a BJP ticket from Itanagar constituency. Mutchu Mithi, who switched from NPP to BJP, won uncontested from the Roing seat. Gokar Basar, who rejoined NPP after being denied a BJP ticket, was defeated by BJP’s Nyabi Jini Dirchi in Basar constituency.

Additionally, Kardo Nyigyor, who joined BJP after leaving PPA, won from Likabali (ST) constituency, and Independent MLA Chakat Aboh, who joined BJP to secure a ticket, won from Khonsa West seat.