Arunachal Pradesh Election Results 2024 Highlights: ‘BJP’s acceptability is more here,’ says Pema Khandu who is likely to return as CM for 3rd term

Several factors contributed to this landslide victory, writes Bengia Ajum, a journalist based in Itanagar

First and foremost, the people of Arunachal always vote for parties in power in Delhi.

Second, the opposition, in particular the Congress, crumbled and struggled to put up candidates in all 60 seats.

Another big outcome of the election is the re-election of former home minister Kumar Waii. He won the election on a Congress ticket and is the lone MLA of the grand old party. 

This election also witnessed, for the first time, an attempt to polarise elections based on religious basis. 

One more factor that will play an important role in deciding the government formation in the state will be the outcome of the Lok Sabha election. Two MPs are from Arunachal Pradesh. 

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"The dynamics of Arunachal are different geographically and demographically. We are a tribal state, we have about 26 major tribes and we do not understand each other’s dialect or language. So, the medium of interaction is Hindi. So, the BJP’s acceptability is more here," said Arunachal CM Pema Khandu, hours after the BJP stormed back to power winning 46 of the 60 seats. He shared his view on one-party dominance, that too a national party, in small states like Arunachal Pradesh

"We were expecting such a victory because I could sense the issues faced by the people during my frequent travels through the state in the last eight years. Especially in winter, I am always on tour across the state. I could understand the problems on the ground and I could stitch together government schemes and policies accordingly. The mahaul (environment) was entirely for the BJP."

Further, he spoke to The Indian Express about the mandate, the difference between the BJP and his former party Congress, and what the Centre has done to help the state. READ MORE HERE

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar on Sunday said that its victory in three Assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh is a step towards regaining national party status.

“We are thrilled to announce that the Nationalist Congress Party has won 3 Vidhan Sabha seats and secured more than 10 per cent of the vote share in Arunachal Pradesh. This incredible success marks a significant step on our journey to regaining National Party status. With previous victories in Maharashtra, Nagaland, and now Arunachal Pradesh, we are just one state away from achieving our goal,” said Praful Patel, NCP’s working president. Read full story here

The notification of Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections was handed to the state's governor by Chief Electoral Officer.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu Sunday termed the landslide victory of the BJP in the assembly elections “historic” and said the momentum will spread across the country on June 4 when the saffron party will emerge victorious in the Lok Sabha elections.

'This is a historic occasion for the BJP and entire Arunachal Pradesh. People of Arunachal Pradesh have declared that they want the BJP to stay in power for the next five years. This time, the mandate is more than what we got in 2019. In the 2019 assembly polls, BJP won 41 seats, while we have won 46 seats this time,' Khandu told PTI.

Pema Khandu has emerged as a tall leader in Arunachal Pradesh especially after a constitutional crisis in 2016 that led to the imposition of president's rule in the state. A sports and music enthusiast, Khandu was also regarded as a strategist who brought the BJP to power for the first time in the northeastern state bordering China.

"Thank you Arunachal Pradesh! The people of this wonderful state have given an unequivocal mandate to politics of development. My gratitude to them for reposing their faith in @BJP4Arunachal yet again. Our Party will keep working with even greater vigour for the state’s growth," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X after the results for the assembly polls were declared this afternoon.

The ruling BJP has returned to power in the state with a resounding victory, securing a landslide win by capturing more than 2/3rd majority (46 out of 60 seats) in the assembly elections.

The Congress managed to win one seat -- Bameng assembly seat

The National People's Party won five seats.

The People's Party of Arunachal won two seats

Three Independent candidates secured victories

Arunachal Pradesh RWD minister Honchung Ngandam and Tourism Minister Nakap Nalo were among the 44 BJP candidates who have won the assembly polls today. Counting is still going on with BJP leading in two.

3 Independent candidates have been declared winners

The script for Sunday’s outcome began to be written when MLAs from other parties began jumping ship en-masse to the BJP in the months leading up to the elections. “No candidate wants to be in the opposition in Arunachal politics,” said Professor Nani Bath, who teaches political science at the Rajiv Gandhi University in the state.

The result was that going into the elections the BJP ended up with 55 of the outgoing MLAs on its side. The biggest blow to the Congress came when its Legislature Party leader Lombo Tayeng joined the ruling party in March. Since then, it had been an uphill battle for the party.

The BJP is well on its way to returning to power in Arunachal Pradesh with even more commanding numbers than in the last Assembly, with wins in 42 seats and leads in another four in the elections to the 60-member House.

The party’s dominant position in the elections was clearly signalled when it won 10 of the 60 seats unopposed, including Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein’s constituencies. It now seems set to cross its tally of 41 in 2019. The other significant outcome that seems to be playing out is the almost near wipe-out of the Congress which was in power in the state till Pema Khandu’s exit from the party with 43 MLAs in 2016.  As of 1.30 pm, it was leading in one seat with a vote share of 5.12%. In 2019, it had won four seats with a vote share of 16.85%. The party’s fight for survival in the state was evident in its struggle to put up candidates. It had only 19 candidates in the fray.

The National People's Party secures wins in 4 assembly seats including Tawang, Liromoba, Mariyang, Longding Pumao

Celebrations outside the BJP office in Itanagar as the party is set to form government in the state with an overwhelming majority.

The BJP on Sunday returned to power in Arunachal Pradesh for the third time in a row, as the party secured majority by winning 33 seats in the 60-member assembly, Election Commission officials said. Counting of votes is underway for 50 seats for which elections were held in the northeastern state on April 19. The rest 10 seats were won by the saffron party uncontested.

After Narendra Modi-led BJP came to power at the Centre, the first state which saw a mass desertion of the Congress leaders was Arunachal Pradesh, where in 2016 more than two-thirds of 42 Congress MLAs, led by Pema Khandu, crossed over to the BJP. In the 2019 polls, an enfeebled Congress was able to win only 4 out of 60 seats.

The Congress’s decline in these states has largely been driven by the exits of influential party leaders and lack of fresh entrants to make up for these losses. This coupled with a public tendency to back the party in power at the Centre and its allies in their states has made the situation more daunting for the Congress.

Securing its win for a second consecutive time in the Arunachal Pradesh state assembly polls, the CM Pema Khandu-led BJP maintains lead in 11 seats. The counting is still underway.

Celebrations are in full swing outside the BJP state office in Itanagar as the party is set to form government in the state with an overwhelming majority. It crossed the majority mark with 31 seats.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu extended wishes to BJP leaders as the party registered its victory in 31 seats in the state.

The National People's Party bagged its second win with its candidate from Tawang Namgey Tsering beating BJP's Tsering Dorjee by a margin of 966 votes, After four rounds of counting, 56 votes were accounted for NOTA for this assembly seat.

The vein of the Assembly elections in the state and the fate of one-sixth of the House had become clear on March 30 itself, which was the final date for candidates to withdraw their nominations. On that day, the state chief electoral officer declared that 10 candidates – all from the BJP – were “elected” since they were “unopposed”.

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As of 12.10 pm, here's a tally of the seats won in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections (As per ECI):

BJP: 27 seats (Leading in 19)

National People's Party: 1 (Leading: 4)

People's Party of Arunachal: 1 (Leading: 1)

Nationalist Congress Party: 0 (Leading: 3)

Independent: 1

NPEP's candidate from Liromba was declared the winner by the EC. He beat BJP's Nyamar Lambark by a margin of 1698 votes.

Meanwhile, the BJP is headed towards a victory in the state assembly polls. It has won 13 seats during the counting so far in addition to the 10 votes it had in the bag uncontested.

The ruling BJP which is leading in over half the seats has been declared as the winner in 12 assembly seats so far.

The BJP had already won 10 seats unopposed in the 60-member assembly, elections for which were held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls in the first phase on April 19

The trends so far place its vote share at 55%, as per EC data at 11.15 am. In 2019 polls, the BJP's vote share was 50.86%.

The party had won only 4 seats in 2019 with a 16.85% vote share. 

BJP's Wanglin Lowangdong won from the Borduria-Bogapani constituency with 4731 votes. He beat Nationalist Congress Party's Jowang Hosai by a margin of 1452 votes.

BJP's Tesam Pongte was declared the winner from Changlang North. He beat NPEP's Dihom Kitnya by a margin of 2522 votes.

As results of Assembly Elections in two northeastern states start trickling in, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) look set to retain their hold over Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, respectively.

In Arunachal, the ruling BJP is currently leading in 33 out of the 50 seats up for contention.

Notably, only 50 of the 60 Assembly seats went to polls, as 10 BJP MLAs, including outgoing Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy CM Chowna Mein, secured victory unopposed.

In the first declared result of the day, Independent candidate Wanglam Sawin triumphed over the BJP’s Kamrang Tesia in the Khonsa (East) constituency.

Additionally, the National People’s Party (NPEP) is currently ahead in six constituencies, and the Congress is ahead in one seat. The BJP has 55.25% of the vote share, and the NCEP has 16.35%, according to the EC’s data.

The counting day for assembly polls in Arunachal and Sikkim was moved up from June 4 to Sunday because the current assembly terms end on June 2, and a new House must be formed by then.

Congress doesn't have leads in any seats even as the Election Commission begins to declares winner of the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections Results 2024.

In several elections in the region in recent years, large sections of voters have rallied round either the regional parties or the BJP, resulting in the marginalisation of the Congress in every state barring Assam, where the latter continues to be the principal Opposition.

BJP's celebrations begin in it's party office in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. Out of 50 seats for which counting is taking place today, its candidates have already been declared winner in 5 seats and the ruling party is leading in 31 more.

Sitting CM Pema Khandu is looking at his third consecutive term as the chief minister. He was declared as the winner uncontested from Mukto assembly seat.

The EC has declared BJP candidates from three other seats: Borduria-Bogapani, Changlang North and Changlang South

The ruling party leads in 32 of the remaining seats

Independent Wanglam Sawin has won from Khonsa (East), beating the BJP's Kamrang Tesia in the first declared result in the day. The BJP is leading in 33 out of the remaining 49 seats in which counting is underway.

BJP candidate from Itanagar Tachi Keso was declared as the winner uncontested after the other nominees withdrew their nominations.

Sitting CM Pema Khandu from his family stronghold of Mukto.

Deputy CM Chowna Mein won unopposed from Chowkham constituency after his challenger from the Congress, Bayamso Kri, withdrew his nomination.

The other candidates elected unopposed include Dasanglu Pul from the Hayuliang, Dongru Siongju (Bomdila), Ratu Techi (Sagalee), Techi Kaso (Itanagar), Hage Appa (Ziro-Hapoli), Jikke Tako (Tali), Nyato Dukam (Taliha) and Mutchu Mithi (Roing).

As per the latest trends, the Congress lost its lead in Miao to BJP and it is currently not leading in any seat.

Congress's Chatu Langori who was in the lead earlier is now trailing behind BJP's Kamlung Mosang by approximately 1322 votes as of 10 am. (ECI data)

For this seat, 180 votes were cast for NOTA.

Having bagged 10 seats uncontested, the BJP is all set to retain power in the state with sitting CM Pema Khandu likely to continue for a third consecutive term.The majority mark is 31 seats and as per trends, BJP is leading in 33 seats including--Lumla, Kalaktang, Koloriang, Nacho, Likabali, Basar, Along (West), Along (East) and others. The National People's Party has a lead in six seats.

In Arunachal, just 50 of the 60 Assembly seats went to polls after 10 BJP MLAs, including outgoing Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy CM Chowna Mein, were “elected unopposed”.

The no-contests are a clear sign of the near-complete dominance of the political space in the state by the incumbent BJP, as reported by Sukrita Baruah for the The Indian Express.

With all signs pointing in its favour, the BJP is very confident about retaining its hold over the state. In fact, Khandu has claimed that there will be a clean sweep and that the BJP will walk away with all seats in the state. 

The ruling BJP in Arunachal Pradesh is leading in 31 assembly seats while the National People's Party (NPEP) was ahead in eight constituencies as of 9.30 am, according to the Election Commission of India data.

Counting of votes for 50 assembly seats in the northeastern state began at 6 am.

The final results are expected to be out by noon, the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) was quoted as saying by PTI.

As per the latest trends, the Congress has lost its lead in Miao to BJP and it is currently not leading in any seat.

Notably, the NPP which is in second place at 8 seats behind the BJP's 40 (including the 10 uncontested seats) is part of the BJP-led NDA and North East Democratic Alliance.

However, so far, Arunachal BJP leaders have been stating that they will not be part of any post-poll alliance in the state.

WATCH |  Visuals from a counting centre in the Papum Pare district.

Despite rain across the state, hundreds of supporters of various political parties were seen standing near the counting centres

The ruling BJP crossed the halfway mark; won 10 seats leading on 23. National People's Party is leading on 8 seats, People's Party of Arunachal on 3 seats. The majority mark in the State Assembly is 31 out of 60 Assembly seats. The BJP had already won 10 seats unopposed.

Trends so far indicate a smooth sailing win for the BJP. With 10 seats of the 60 member assembly already under their belt uncontested, they are now leading in 26 seats. Conrad Sangma's NPEP is currently a second with nine seats. The Congress, which held power in the state till 2016 is now leading only on one seat - Chatu Longri from Miao

Votes for the 50 assembly seats are being counted:

BJP: 20

INC: 1

National People's Party:6

Others: 7

With 10 "unopposed" wins in its kitty already, the BJP crossed the halfway mark leaving the opposition far behind.

It is currently leading in 16 other seats.

The vein of the Assembly elections in the state and the fate of one-sixth of the House had become clear on March 30 itself, which was the final date for candidates to withdraw their nominations. On that day, the state chief electoral officer declared that 10 candidates – all from the BJP – were “elected” since they were “unopposed”.

People's Party of Arunachal leads in 2 seats: Election Commission data

Here's what early trends show as votes for the 50 assembly seats are being counted:

BJP: 21

National People's Party: 3

Others: 3

Son of late Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who died in a chopper crash in 2011, the 37-year-old graduate from Delhi's prestigious Hindu College had an early entry into governance after his father's demise. Pema became the youngest chief minister in the country when he took over as the CM.

The last election in April 2019 saw the BJP come to power with Pema Khandu as the Chief Minister. CM Khandu won unopposed from his family’s stronghold Mukto, which he had also won unopposed in the 2011 by-election after the death of his father and former CM Dorjee KhanduHe was elected unopposed a second time in the 2014 Assembly elections from the same seat.

As per the early trends, in addition to having 10 unopposed wins, the ruling BJP leads in 13 seats

Several MLAs, who had jumped ship to the BJP, were among the 60 candidates BJP announced for the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections.

Among the turncoats who got BJP tickets are: Dongru Siongu (Bomdila), Kardo Nyogyor (Likabali), Talem Taboh (Rumgong), Ninong Ering (Pasighat West), Lombo Tayeng (Mebo), Mutchu Mithi (Roing), Chakat Taboh (Khonsa West) and Wanglin Lowangdon (Borduria Bogapani).

As per the early trends, BJP leads on 10 seats, National People's Party on 1 in Arunchal Pradesh. The ruling BJP already enjoys and edge having won 10 seats unopposed.

Counting of postal ballots will be conducted first which would be followed by counting of votes in EVMs.

The counting process would be managed by over 2,000 officials. "A three-tier security arrangement has been made in all counting centres," the CEO told PTI.

An estimated 82.71 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in the assembly polls while the turnout for the two Lok Sabha seats in the state was recorded at 77.51 per cent.

Sitting CM Pema Khandu from his family stronghold of Mukto.

Deputy CM Chowna Mein won unopposed from Chowkham constituency after his challenger from the Congress, Bayamso Kri, withdrew his nomination.

The other candidates elected unopposed include Dasanglu Pul from the Hayuliang, Dongru Siongju (Bomdila), Ratu Techi (Sagalee), Techi Kaso (Itanagar), Hage Appa (Ziro-Hapoli), Jikke Tako (Tali), Nyato Dukam (Taliha) and Mutchu Mithi (Roing).

Source: Election Commission of India

The BJP had taken centre stage in state politics overnight in 2016, when Pema Khandu – then a sitting Congress CM – crossed over to the BJP with 43 party MLAs, in line with the national political trends in favour of the BJP. Till then, the state had been a Congress stronghold.