BJP attempts damage control as 6 JDU Arunachal MLAs jump ship; Nitish's camp huddles up

Amid hectic parleys in Nitish Kumar-led JDU camp over recent political developments in Arunachal Presh, BJP on Saturday attempted dam control even as JDU MLAs joined saffron party. BJP asserted that it h "t poached" MLAs in Arunachal Presh and underscored that disgruntled legislators h switched sides of ir own accord. Calling Nitish Kumar  "guardian" of NDA alliance in Bihar, Renu Devi, one of Deputy CMs in Bihar, said that development in Arunachal would t affect tie-up in Bihar.

Renu Devi said, "We h t poached m (JD(U) MLAs in Arunachal Presh). What could our party have done if some legislators voluntarily expressed desire to join us?".

RE | JD(U) Suffers Setback In Arunachal, Six MLAs Join BJP

Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar on Sunday has called for a meeting of his party leers to analyse situation and to decide on its furr move. 60 executive members of party are to meet in first half of day and members of National Council to meet in second half at Party HQ in Patna.

RE | Nitish Kumar Says 'will Discuss In Council' As 6 Of 7 JDU MLAs Switch To BJP In Arunachal

JDU MLAs switch sides

On Friday,  Janata Dal-United received a major jolt in Arunachal Presh, with six of its seven MLAs shifting allegiance to ruling BJP, a bulletin issued by state legislative assembly said. JD(U) MLAs who switched sides are Talem Taboh from Rumgong Assembly Constituency, Hayeng Mangfi (Chayang Tajo), Jikke Tako (Tali), Dorjee Wangdi Kharma (Kalaktang), Dongru Siongju (Bomdila) and Kanggong Taku from Mariyang-Geku constituency, bulletin said. development comes a day ahe of anuncement of panchayat and municipal poll results.

On vember 26, JD(U) h issued show-cause tices to Siongju, Kharma and Taku for "anti-party" activities, and suspended m. six JD(U) MLAs h earlier elected Talem Taboh as new Legislature Party leer allegedly without kwledge of senior party members. PPA MLA was also suspended by regional outfit earlier this month. BJP has w accepted JDU MLAs' letter of intent to join party. 

JD(U), led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, won seven of 15 seats it contested in 2019 assembly elections and emerged as second-largest party after BJP, which h bagged 41 seats. Congress and National People's Party (NPP) have four members each. 

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