Congress announces 56 candidates for AP polls, six first timers in fray 

Itanagar, Sep 14 : Ending all speculation, the Congress in Arunachal Pradesh has announced the names of 56 candidates, including two women and six first timers, for the October 13 assembly elections in the state. 

All India Congress Committee (AICC) central election committee incharge Oscar Fernandes announced the names of the nominees at New Delhi yesterday, party sources said here today. 

Interestingly, the names of nine sitting MLAs failed to figure in the list, while names of candidates for four constituencies - Pakke-Kessang, Palin, Yachuli and Namsai - are yet to be finalised following reported internal bickering within party aspirants which has forced the party high command to wait for at least another day before revealing their names. 

Those sitting MLAs who did not win Congress favour are monk-turned politician TG Rinpoche (Lumla), Tani Loffa (Seppa West), Nyato Rigia (Taliha), Kito Sora (Along East), Tadik Chije (Mechuka), Wangnia Pongte (Changlang North), Kamthok Lowang (Khonsa East), Thajom Aboh (Khonsa West) and sitting minister Atum Welly (Seppa East). 

Out of the nine former BJP MLAs who joined the Congress in recent times, six were able to clear their names as Congress nominees this time, while Tani Loffa (Seppa West) has been denied ticket and the fates of Balo Raja (Palin) and Techi Hemu (Pakke-Kessang) are yet to be announced. 

The six BJP-turned-Congress MLAs whose names were included in the list are RT Khunjuju, who won from Bomdila on a BJP ticket in 2004, and was last of the Opposition pack to shake hands with Congress, Tapang Taloh from Pangin, Bosiram Siram from Pasighat (East), Chow Tewa Mein from Chowkham, Kameng Dolo from Chayangtajo and Kipa Babu from prestigious Itanagar constituency. 

However, the same is not the story of the two Arunachal Congress (AC) MLAs. While JK Pangeng (Mariyang Geku) is in the Congress list, Daklo Nidak (Daporijo) has been sidelined. His place has been taken by veteran and faithful Yari Dulom, who incidentally is the president of the state Mahila Congress Committee.