No BJP govt in state, we are still in Cong: Rebel MLAs

Dissident Congress MLAs in Arunachal Pradesh on 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 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition.

The 21 dissident MLAs said they continue to be in the Congress and have nothing against party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi but against Tuki's style and functioning. 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," said Pasang Dorjee, MLA and spokesperson of the rebel group.

He said the rebels have been waiting for months in vain for an audience with Sonia 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 responsible for not allowing us to meet Congress president and vice-president," he said.