Mithi buries the past, Apang returns ‘home’

A year after he led 34 of the 35 ruling Congress MLAs to the BJP, toppling the Mukut Mithi government in Arunachal, Gegong Apang today retur...

A year after he led 34 of the 35 ruling Congress MLAs to the BJP, toppling the Mukut Mithi government in Arunachal, Gegong Apang today returned to the Congress fold — lock, stock and barrel.

The Congress, which had then contended that the BJP was playing with fire, rolled out a red carpet for Apang. The BJP quite expectedly termed him an ‘‘opportunist and habitual defector’’ and its vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi asserted that Apang’s exit would have no affect on the party’s prospects in the state Assembly polls, slated for October 7.

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In tune with the role-reversal, the Congress, which had last month sought the dismissal of Apang and imposition of President’s rule, is unlikely to reiterate its plea now. By the same token, it may be left to the BJP to continue with the demand.

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Apang, accompanied by his ministerial colleagues, was introduced to the media by party spokesperson Girija Vyas and CWC member Ramesh Chennithala, who is in charge of party affairs in Arunachal. The ceremonies were completed with Apang filling the membership form.

Sources disclosed that Mithi, who heads the state Congress, was opposed to Apang’s re-entry. But he had to give in to the high command’s wishes. Resigned to the changed situation, Mithi said: ‘‘The past has been buried and we are looking towards the future.’’

Apang termed his return to the Congress as ‘‘a homecoming’’ and said: ‘‘The ideology and philosophy of Congress runs deep in our veins.’’

The A.B. Vajpayee government, according to him, had not fulfilled even a single promise for Arunachal. As for the reason for his return to the Congress, Apang said: ‘‘Since the state is scheduled to go to the polls, people, particularly political workers, have started questioning our wisdom to continue in a party which not only has a narrow political thinking but has also proved an abyssmal failure in fulfilling commitments made to the tribal people of the state.’’

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As for factionalism, Apang said: ‘‘There are no groups. Our only leader is Sonia Gandhi under whose direction and guidance we will all work for the victory of Congress.’’ A reporter sought his response on the charge levelled by Congress leaders, including the then leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Manmohan Singh, that he was in league with underground elements. ‘‘This is not correct,’’ he said.