New Delhi: Dissident Congress MLAs in Arunachal Pradesh Monday demanded the removal of deposed Chief Minister Nabam Tuki from leadership of the CLP so that the party can continue to have a government and ruled out supporting a BJP-led coalition.
The 21 dissident MLAs said they continue to be in Congress and have nothing against party President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi but against the style and functioning of Tuki.
They acussed senior party leader V Narayanswami of being responsible for the current political mess.
"We are Congress MLAs. We want a Congress government not a BJP government. We have nothing against our high command. If Tuki is removed from the leadership, everything will be resolved and a Congress government will be installed in Itanagar," MLA and spokesperson of the rebel group Pasang Dorjee told PTI.
He said the rebels have been waiting for months in vain for an audience with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul.
"But if the Congress leadership agrees to listen to our grievances, we will happily meet them. It is Congress leader Narayanswami, who is in-charge of party affairs in the state, who is putting hurdle. He is completely responsible for not allowing us to meet Congress President and Vice-President,"
Dorjee said.
Asked whether Congress dissidents would support BJP to form the next government in Arunachal Pradesh, Dorjee said, the question does not arise at all as his group has more MLAs.
"We (Congress rebels) have 21 MLAs and BJP has 11 MLAs. There are two independent MLAs too. We are ready to take support from anyone as it will be a Congress-led government," he said.
He claimed Tuki has support of just 26 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly.
Asked whether BJP would support a Congress-led government as claimed by him, Dorjee said that in the interest of Arunachal Pradesh, BJP would be ready to support the Congress rebel group.
"We are for development of Arunachal Pradesh. BJP is also for development of Arunachal Pradesh. So, why will not they support us?" he said.
Dorjee said they have already projected former Minister and veteran state Congress leader Kalikho Pul as the next Chief Minister of the state.
