Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Election: CM Conrad Sangma-Led NPP Releases First List Of 29 Candidates

The list also featured 22 first-time candidates.Among the key contenders are Thangwang Wangham, former two-time MLA and current president of the party's state unit.

New Delhi: The Nationalist People's Party (NPP) on Saturday announced its first list of 29 candidates for the upcoming Arunachal Pradesh assembly elections, set to take place on April 19. The announcement, made by the party's national general secretary James PK Sangma, comprised three sitting MLAs, one former minister, and three former legislators. Notably, the list also introduces 22 first-time candidates. Among the key figures included is Thangwang Wangham, a former two-time MLA and the current president of the party's state unit, who will be contesting for the Longding-Pumao constituency in Longding district.

Former minister Japu Deru is to contest from the Bomdila constituency, while ex-MLA Tani Loffa and Dikto Yekar will vie for seats in the Seppa West and Daporijo constituencies the party said. Noteworthy candidates also include sitting Independent MLA Karikho Kri, who will seek re-election from the Tezu constituency, and incumbent NPP MLA Gokar Basar, running again from Basar. Additionally, Dorjee Wangdi Karma, a sitting BJP MLA from the Kalatang constituency who was denied a ticket, will be contesting as an NPP nominee, reported PTI. 

The decision by the Nationalist People's Party (NPP), under the leadership of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, to refrain from fielding candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats in the northeastern state and instead extend support to BJP candidates, reflects the party's alliance with the North East Democratic Alliance. James Sangma, speaking on behalf of the party, highlighted that the decision was reached after several review meetings with state leadership.

He expressed confidence in the NPP's rapid growth, positioning it among the fastest-growing political parties in the country alongside the BJP, Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Sangma also expressed optimism about the possibility of a northeastern candidate becoming the Prime Minister in future.

Arunachal Pradesh Gears Up For Simultaneous Lok Sabha Polls 

Arunachal Pradesh is gearing up for simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, with the counting of votes for the assembly elections scheduled for June 2 and for the Lok Sabha polls on June 4. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced candidates for all assembly seats, the Congress has declared 34 candidates thus far, with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) naming 17 and the regional People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) announcing two candidates.

In the 2019 assembly election, the BJP had bagged 41 seats, JD(U) won seven, the NPP (five), Congress (four), PPA (one) besides two Independents.The ruling party had also won both the Lok Sabha seats in the last election. Arunachal Pradesh comprises two Lok Sabha seats and a 60-member assembly, with the term of the present assembly ending on June 2.