Five political parties in Arunachal Pradesh cutting across party lines, decided not to field any candidate and would support independent candidate Chakat Aboh, wife of slain MLA Tirong Aboh.
The policial parties which have decided to support Chakat Aboh include ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, National People’s Party (NPP), Janata Dal-United (JDU) and People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA).
Chakat Aboh will contest the by-poll to the 56 Khonsa West (ST) Assembly constituency scheduled to be held on October 21, 2019.
Also read: MHA orders NIA probe into Arunachal legislator Tirong Aboh killing
The by-poll is necessitated as Tirong Aboh, who was voted to power in last State Assembly election, was killed along with 10 others in an ambush by suspected NSCN (IM) cadres at 12 Mile in Tirap district of the state on May 21.
Khonsa West (ST) seat went to polls along with other constituencies in the first phase on April 11, 2019.
Tirong Aboh was killed just two days before the declaration of the poll results on May 23.
Also read: Arunachal MLA Tirong Aboh, 10 others shot dead in Tirap
An all-party meeting was called by Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu on Saturday where it was unanimously decided to support by the five political parties in Arunachal Pradesh to support the candidature of slain MLA Tirong Aboh’s wife.
During a press conference after the all-party meet, chief minister Khandu said, “During the all-party meeting, all the members of the political parties have decided not to field any candidate but to support Chakat Aboh, who will contest the bypoll as an independent candidate.”
Chief minister Khandu also announced that if any candidate offers candidature against Chakat Aboh, they would joinly fight eo ensure victory of consensus and independent candidate Chakat Aboh as a tribute to Tirong Aboh “who sacrificed his life for the state”.
In reply to a question regarding the progress of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the killing, Khandu informed that two persons have been arrested for being involved in the incident.