In a major blow to Arunachal Cong, former CM’s son quits post of minister

New Delhi: In a major blow to the ruling Congress in Arunachal Pradesh, the State Minister for Tourism and Urban Development, Pema Khandu, handed his resignation allegedly because of Chief Minister Nabam Tuki's "miserable failure" in governance.

In his resignation letter to Tuki, Khandu, son of former chief minister Dorjee Khandu, complained that the present chief minister's leadership had "miserably failed" to live up to the expectations of the public. He commented on the lack of democracy within the party and of political stability in general, due to which the governance had failed.

In a statement following his resignation, Khandu expressed his disappointment with the "adamant attitude of the present leadership" which led to the failure to bring about any change in the deteriorating political scenario.

He alleged that self-interest and political ambition have taken precedence over democracy, and as a result of the present circumstances, he had decided to quit as a minister on moral grounds, for the larger good of the people of Arunachal.

Khandu's resignation comes soon after the dismissal of four senior minsters by the government for their alleged involvement in anti-party activities. The cases of two other ministers, who had resigned allegedly under pressure, are being decided on by the high court.