Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) is a regional political party in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It was founded in September 1977 by Bakin Pertin, Oken Lego and L. Wanglat as president, Vice President and General Secretary of the party. Tomo Riba resigned from PK Thungon government of Congress Party and joined PPA as Vice President of the party. Currently, Kamen Ringu is the chairman of the party. They were in power in Arunachal until all of their MLAs defected back to Indian National Congress.
On 16 September 2016, 43 MLAs from the ruling party, under the CM Pema Khandu, left Indian National Congress to join People's Party of Arunachal party, in alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party. In December 2016, CM Pema Khandu proved majority on the floor with 33 of the People's Party of Arunachal's 43 legislators joining the Bharatiya Janata Party as the BJP party increased its strength to 45 and secured an absolute majority.
History
Following the election of Pertin as Member of Parliament, a meeting was organized in Pasighat in April 1977. In this meeting, the PPA constitution was drafted under the Chairmanship of L. Wanglat who joined Pertin and Oken Lego. He was Congress General Secretary of Tirap District and also Pradesh Organiser of Seva Dal in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. After the Peoples Party of Arunachal was formed,Modi, Milorai. The Millangs. Itanagar: Himalayan Publishers, 2007. p. 90Begi, Joram. Education in Arunachal Pradesh Since 1947: Constraints, Opportunities, Initiatives and Needs. New Delhi: Mittal Publ, 2007. p. 17 Pertin became the president of the new party.Johsi, H. G. Arunachal Pradesh: Past and Present. New Delhi, India: Mittal Publications, 2005. p. 126 Whilst being the leader of PPA, Pertin continued to be linked to the Janata Party which was then in government in Delhi.Shiv Lal. Elections Under the Janata Rule. New Delhi: Election Archives, 1978. p. 21 Pertin had the status of being an 'associated' member of the Janata Party. He later broke his links with the Janata Party after Congress Party led by CM P.K Thungon merged en-blocked with the Janata Party. Bakin Partin joined INC as an associate member in Parliament while still keeping PPA in Arunachal Pradesh. He was close to Indira Gandhi. Bakin Partin was the first MP to demand the dissolution of the House and called for fresh election Organiser, Vol. 30. Bharat Prakashan., 1978. p. 33Gurmit Singh. Failures of Akali Leadership. Sirsa, Haryana: Usha Institute of Religious Studies, 1981. p. 215
In 1979, PPA MLA and former Congress Minister Tomo Riba became the first PPA Chief Minister. It was a short-lived government spanning from September 1979 to November 1979 with a total of 47 days. A general election was announced in 1980, Arunachal Pradesh State election was included with the general election to elect the Union Territory MLAs. PPA of Tomo Riba and INC of PK Thungon won 13 each in a house of 30 seats. The rest 6 seats were PPA supported independent members. With Indira Gandhi coming back to Power PPA the first associate of INC became the first victim with its President Bakin Partin losing his MP seat from 2 East MP Constituency with most of its members and independent joining INC Party in Arunachal Pradesh. After this party had little success in Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
In 1996, Tomo Riba left the party and joined Gegong Apang camp. Both the leaders had months of deliberation before Tomo Riba and Gegong Apang patched up their political differences. Tomo Riba contested the West Parliamentary election as independent candidate 1996 and became member of the 11th Lok Sabha with the support of Gegong Apang although Apang was Congress Chief Minister in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
Currently, it is a part of North-East Regional Political Front consisting of political parties of the northeast which has supported the National Democratic Alliance (India).
In December 2015, 30 dissident Indian National Congress MLAs including chief minister, Kalikho Pul joined Peoples Party of Arunachal and formed the government along with Bharatiya Janata Party.
In May 2016, after the Bharatiya Janata Party led National Democratic Alliance formed its first government in Assam, a new alliance called the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) was formed with Himanta Biswa Sarma as its convener. The Chief Ministers of the north eastern states of Sikkim, Assam and Nagaland too belong to this alliance. Thus, the People's Party of Arunachal joined the BJP led NEDA.
All of the 30 MLAs returned to Indian National Congress on 16 July 2016 and Pema Khandu was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
On 16 September 2016, 43 MLAs from the ruling party, under the CM Pema Khandu, left Indian National Congress to join People's Party of Arunachal party, in alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party. Though Pema Khandu is still the Chief minister, it is soon expected that either a coalition government will be formed with BJP as the speaker of assembly has also changed sides with the CM, or that the Indian Government will dissolve the state assembly for a fresh general elections.
In October 2016, Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh formally joined hands with Bharatiya Janata Party, making Arunachal Pradesh 14th state to have BJP in power, and with this new coalition, Tamiyo Taga sworn in as Cabinet minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
On 21 December 2016 Pema Khandu was suspended from the party by the party president Kahfa Bengia and Takam Pario was named as the next likely Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh replacing Khandu after People's Party of Arunachal suspended Khandu along with 6 other MLAs.
In December 2016, Pema Khandu proved majority on the floor with 33 of the People's Party of Arunachal's 43 legislators joining the Bharatiya Janata Party as the BJP party increased its strength to 45 and it has the support of two independents. He became second Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh of Bharatiya Janata Party in Arunachal Pradesh after 44 days lead Gegong Apang government in 2003.
List of presidents S.no President Term1.Kamen RinguNovember 200310 April 201512 years2.Kahfa Bengia10 April 20157 December 20243.Nabam Vivek7 December 2024Incumbent
Electoral history
ElectionsMLAs Elected Contested 1978 8 21 1980 13 28 1984 4 13 1990 0 0 1995 0 0 1999 0 0 2004 0 0 2009 4 10 2014 5 16 2019 1 9 2024 2 11
List of chief ministers
No NamePortrait Term of office Days in office1. Tomo Riba 18 September 1979 3 November 1979 2. Kalikho Pul 19 February 2016 13 July 2016 3. Pema Khandu 16 September 2016 31 December 2016
Members of Legislative Assembly Members of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative AssemblyYearSr. no.NameConstituency1.Tara PayengToksing Taliha2.Lijum RonyaAlong North3.Tomo RibaBasar4.Sutem TasungPalin5.Onyok RomeMariyang Mebo6.Aken LegoRoing7.Jungpum JugliNoadehing Nampong8.Sijen KongkangKhonsa South Members of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative AssemblyYearSr. no.NameConstituency1.Karma WangohuTawang 12.Tsering TashiTawang 2 3.Sinam Dususow BomdilaBomdila4.Nyari WellySeppa 5.Boa TameRaga Tali6.TumpaketeAlong South7.Tomo RibaBasar 8.Talo KaduPasighat 9.Onyok RomeMariyang Mebo10.Aken LegoRoing11.Chau Khouk ManpoongNamsai Chowkham12.James Lowangcha WanglatKhonsa North13.Wangnam WangshuNiausa Kanubari Members of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative AssemblyYearSr. no.NameConstituency1984 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election1.Japu DeruBomdila2.Doi AdoAlong South3.Tapum JamohPasighat5.Bakin PertinMariyang Mebo MLAs elected after PPA's revival Members of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative AssemblyYearSr. no.NameConstituency2009 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election1.Phurpa TseringDirang2.Kumsi SidisowThrizino-Buragaon3.Takam ParioPalin4.Markio TadoTali Members of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative AssemblyYearSr. no.NameConstituency2014 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election1.Pani TaramKoloriang2.Pasang Dorjee SonaMechuka3.Nikh KaminBordumsa-Diyun4.Wanglam SawinKhonsa East5.Tirong AbohKhonsa West Members of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative AssemblyYearSr. no.NameConstituency2019 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election1.Kardo NyigyorLikabali Members of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative AssemblyYearSr. no.NameConstituency2024 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election1.Nabam VivekDoimukh2.Oken TayengMebo
See also List of political parties in India
References
External links Tomo Riba Bakin Pertin "45 Congress MLA With CM Pema Khandu Join Peoples Party Of Arunachal"