In fast-changing developments, Khaliko Pul, rebel-turned Chief Minister, who was unseated by the Supreme Court, returned to the party fold with 30 dissident MLAs.
Khandu will take oath as the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister on Sunday after the party managed to convince rebel legislators to come back into the fold and avoid a floor test.
The 37-year-old was elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party after Chief Minister Nabam Tuki resigned. Khandu, a graduate from Delhi’s Hindu College, was one of the 21 rebel legislators who walked out of the party last year, plunging the Tuki administration in crisis. Raj Bhavan officials said Khandu does not want to take oath on a Saturday.
“There is no more dissidence, only differences of opinion. There is no relevance of floor test now. This is a big victory for the Congress,” said Tuki after emerging from the Raj Bhavan. But Governor Tathagata Roy refused to comment on whether the floor test will go ahead or a possible swearing-in ceremony for Khandu.
The Congress said it has the support of 47 MLAs in an assembly with an effective strength of 58. “The credit goes to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi for reuniting the Congress in Arunachal,” Khandu stated.
The development comes as a setback for the BJP that had backed rebel leader Kalikho Pul, who walked out of the party in November with 20 other MLAs, and formed the government with support from the saffron party. But sources said even Pul attended the Congress party meeting on Saturday, along with several others.