Arunachal crisis: BJP backs Pema Khandu, says 12 MLAs supporting his govt

Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav on Friday said that around 12 BJP MLAs in Arunachal Pradesh are supporting the government led by suspended Peoples' Party of Arunachal (PPA) leader and Chief Minister Pema Khandu.

"12 BJP MLAs in Arunachal strongly backing government led by Pema Khandu," Ram Madhav said to ANI.

Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh BJP president Tapir Gao also extended support to Khandu and said that the latter was unanimously elected and their party still considers him to be the chief minister.

Read: Takam Pario may be next Arunachal CM after Pema Khandu’s suspension

"Our alliance is with the PPA and at this juncture, I would like to appeal to the PPA for the development of the state for the security of the state. There should not be any such clashes between the PPA legislators," he said.

According to sources, Peoples' Party of Arunachal (PPA) MLA Takam Pario is likely to be the next chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh after Khandu was suspended temporarily last night.

Khandu, his deputy Chowna Mein and five other legislators of ruling PPA government were suspended temporarily for alleged anti-party activities.

Khandu became chief minister in July after exiting from the Congress along with 43 other MLAs to join the PPA in September.