BJP not to put up candidate in Mukto by-poll

Itanagar, Jun 24: The BJP in Arunachal Pradesh has withdrawn its earlier decision to field a candidate in the July 14 by-election to Mukto assembly constituency in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China.

With the BJP's decision to withdraw candidate from the fray, the deck is cleared for former Arunachal Pradesh Chief minister Dorjee Khandu's eldest son Pema Khandu to be declared elected uncontested.

"The party's State Election Committee after three days hectic parleys arrived at a consensus decision yesterday not to field candidate in the by-election as a last respect to former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and in recognition of his liberal attitude for welfare of the downtrodden irrespective of party affiliation," party spokesman Tai Tagak said in a statement here today.

The BJP state Core Committee members including President Tangor Tapak, BJP Legislature Party leader Tamiyo Taga, Deputy Leader Tapen Siga, Vice President Padmeshwari Jamoh besides party's national general secretary and former Lok Sabha member Tapir Gao arrived at the decision, Tagak said.

The seat felt vacant after the tragic death of Khandu who died in a chopper crash on April 30 last at Luguthang, near Tawang along with four others on board.

PTI