Arunachal Congress congratulates CM Khandu, presents 'revamped, united' govt. for the people

Itanagar, July 17 (ANI): Asserting that there were no more difference within the party in Arunachal Pradesh, the Congress on Sunday congratulated the newly-appointed Chief Minister Pema Khandu, saying that the party would whole-heartedly co-operate with him to run the government in service of the people of the state. Speaking to ANI here after Khandu's swearing-in ceremony, former chief minister Nabam Tuki said that now with the misconceptions and differences being cleared out, the party will work towards making itself more united. "There are no more differences anymore, everything has been cleared once and for all and we are united. We will work together as one unit for the development of the state and for the service of the people. We will make the party stronger," Tuki said. Echoing similar sentiments, former chief minister Kalikho Pul extended his best wishes to his successor and said that he would cooperate with Khandu in the new government. Sworn-in as the new Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein said that the new government has the blessings from its former seat holders and will now charge ahead to work for the development of the state. "There are a lot of responsibilities now. Our new, revamped government is back in power and all the disagreements are gone. Our new government will work towards development. Nabam Tuki and Kalikho Pul are also here and we have their blessings," Mein told ANI. After being elected leader of the Congress in the Arunachal Pradesh assembly yesterday, Pema Khandu was sworn-in as the new Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, bringing back the rebel leaders in the fray. The Congress succeeding in roping the rebels back to the party fold by forcing Nabam Tuki to step down as the chief minister. The much anticipated floor test in Arunachal Pradesh Assembly was cancelled after Tuki resigned as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader. Khandu, the son of former chief minister Dorjee Khandu, was elected as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader. Khandu was part of a group of 30 party legislators, who had rebelled against Tuki's leadership. Tuki, on his part, said that he sacrificed all his powers in a bid to strengthen the grand old party. Tuki resigned owing to internal disputes in the party over his leadership. Rejecting Tuki's request to provide some more time to hold the floor test to prove his majority, Governor Tathagata Roy yesterday said the floor test would go ahead as scheduled. With all its 45 legislators back in the fold, the Congress will have a majority yet again in the 60-member Arunachal Pradesh Assembly. The Supreme Court, in a historic verdict on Wednesday, reinstated Tuki-led Congress Government and quashed the actions of the Governor post December 15 last year. In December last, the Congress rebels, backed by the BJP, staged a coup and ousted Tuki as the chief minister. (ANI)