Assembly polls: Arunachal CM Pema Khandu thanks citizens for BJP's landslide victory

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Pema Khandu has, on behalf of his party, expressed his thankfulness to the citizens for the Saffron party’s landslide victory in the April 19 Assembly elections, the results of which were announced on Sunday.

Khandu, who won the election from the Mukto seat without any contest, also conveyed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President JP Nadda for leading the party to an outstanding win.

Talking to reporters at the State BJP headquarters here after the poll outcome came, Khandu said, “The Bharatiya Janata Party has set a new record of sorts. The BJP has won 46 seats in the 2024 Assembly election, while the party has secured 41 seats in the 2019 polls.”

Attributing the BJP’s thumping majority to the development activities brought in by the party under the leadership of PM Modi, he said, “This is the reflection of what the BJP did for the state during the last 8–10 years.”

“Despite being a topographically challenging state, Arunachal Pradesh has witnessed historic development over a period of time. People are very happy. Our PM loves the North East and Arunachal Pradesh, and he understands the people’s problems,” he said.

Asked about the selection of a new leader to head the state for the next 5 years, Khandu threw the ball to the court of the party's central leadership, saying “there is a process to elect a new leader. The party high command will send a senior leader, and whatever decision he takes, only a new leader will be picked who will be the next chief minister.”

Hinting that the selection of the new BJP Legislature Party leader will be done only after the declaration of Lok Sabha poll results scheduled for June 4, he said, “Unlike other political parties, the BJP is a disciplined party. Whatever decision the party takes, we have to follow it. There is no candidate for the chief minister’s post,” he said.

“After the parliamentary polls result, all the elected leaders will come to Itanagar and then have the BLP meeting to elect a new leader. After that only, we (the party) will stake claim to form the new government,” Khandu added.

It may be mentioned that the ruling party had not projected its chief ministerial candidate prior to the April 19 polls.