Itanagar, February 22, 2025: In a significant development in Arunachal Pradesh’s political landscape, over 1,000 leaders and supporters from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have switched allegiance to the Indian National Congress (INC) in the Pasighat West constituency. This mass transition took place on Saturday at the Uma Ganga Ecological Resort in Rayang village near Ruksin, East Siang district, just months before the state’s upcoming Panchayat elections scheduled for December.
The event was attended by prominent Congress figures, including Bosiram Siram, Working President of the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee, and Alen Perme, President of the District Congress Committee. The defection was led by Tamat Saroh, a former NCP election agent in the 37th Pasighat West Assembly Constituency, alongside Tapyam Pada, a previous NCP candidate, and numerous block and village-level party workers.
Siram welcomed the new members, describing the move as a promising sign for Congress not only in Pasighat West but across Arunachal Pradesh. He expressed confidence that the INC, under the leadership of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, could reclaim power by capitalizing on growing discontent with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Siram criticized the BJP’s handling of the controversial Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act of 1978, arguing that it threatens constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and has alienated many citizens.
The shift is seen as a strategic boost for Congress, particularly in Pasighat West, where the party previously refrained from fielding an Assembly candidate but saw Siram outperform the BJP’s Tapir Gao in votes during the last parliamentary election. Perme echoed Siram’s optimism, urging local voters to rally behind the INC as a viable alternative to the BJP ahead of the Panchayat polls.
This realignment underscores rising political tensions in the state, with Congress positioning itself to challenge the BJP’s dominance. As the December elections approach, the move could reshape local dynamics and invigorate the INC’s campaign efforts in Arunachal Pradesh.
