The Election Commission of India has announced that the mountainous state of Arunachal Pradesh will witness its Assembly elections on April 19, 2024. The polls, slated to be conducted in a single phase, will also coincide with the Lok Sabha elections for the two parliamentary constituencies of Arunachal East and Arunachal West. Vote counting is scheduled for June 4, 2024, as confirmed by the Election Commission today in New Delhi.
The current term of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly is slated to conclude on June 2, 2024, making these forthcoming elections crucial for the political landscape of the northeastern state.
In the previous Assembly elections held in 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious, securing a significant mandate with Pema Khandu assuming office as Chief Minister. Presently, the BJP holds a dominant position with 53 seats. The National People's Party follows with two seats, while one seat each is held by the Congress party and an Independent MLA.
As the electoral battleground gears up, the political scenario unfolds, with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominating Union Minister Kiren Rijiju for the Arunachal West seat and Tapir Gao for Arunachal East. On the other hand, the Congress party is yet to reveal its candidates for the Arunachal Pradesh Lok Sabha seats. The Janata Dal (United) has announced Ruhi Tagung, the party's state chief, as its candidate from Arunachal West.
The upcoming elections are poised to be a significant contest, determining the direction of governance and representation in Arunachal Pradesh in the coming years. With political parties gearing up for the electoral fray, the state braces itself for a democratic exercise that will shape its future trajectory.