"The UDF which is now a part of the alliance at the Centre will contest the next general and Assembly elections jointly with the bjp,’’ the Chief Minister, who was here at the beginning of his second innings as the Chief Minister, told uni here.

Describing his visit to the capital as a courtesy one, the Chief Minister said his trip was aimed at strengthening udf’s ties with the nda. He met bjp chief m venkaiah Naidu yesterday to formally convey UDF’s decision to join the nda. The BJP has welcomed the decision.

The Chief Minister also met Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Defence Minister George Fernandes and Planning Commission Vice Chairman kc pant"The udf which is now a part of the alliance at the Centre will contest the next general and Assembly elections jointly with the bjp,’’ the Chief Minister, who was here at the beginning of his second innings as the Chief Minister.

Describing his visit to the capital as a courtesy one, the Chief Minister said his trip was aimed at strengthening udf’s ties with the nda. He met bjp chief m venkaiah Naidu yesterday to formally convey udf’s decision to join the nda. The bjp has welcomed the decision.

The Chief Minister also met Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Defence Minister George Fernandes and Planning Commission Vice Chairman kc pant.

Last month, when former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Mukut Mithi was here to attend a seminar, his government was toppled after 38 Congress legislators including ministers defected from the parent party and formed the Congress (D). In a similar fashion Apang was ousted by Mithi in 1999.

Subsequently, the Congress mlas along with two independents and one unattached mla formed udf, headed by Geong Apang and staked claim to form the government. Apang was sworn in as the Chief Minister along with 32 ministers of Cabinet rank and three ministers of state on August 3, after Mithi lost the vote of confidence by voice vote on August 2.

Apang, who was the Chief Minister for 19 years, formed the Arunachal Congress in 1996, which was one of the founder members of the ruling nda.

On the jumbo size ministry, Apang said, "my ministry is smaller than that of Mithi ... He had 42 ministers.’’ Apang’s ministry includes 20 of 22 members of the Mukut Mithi Ministry, who switched loyalties. There are 38 ministers in the Apang government — 34 Cabinet rank and three ministers of state apart from the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister exuded confidence that the udf would win the vote of confidence scheduled later this month. "In fact, some of the 18 Congress mlas might support us.’’

Categorically denying the Congress allgetion that he colluded with the nscn(i-m) to overthrow Mithi, Apang said, "such allegations are false and baseless... They defected because of Mithi’s wrong policies.’’

d.p.maheshwari, The North East Times, e mail glpghy@satyam.net.in.

Last month, when former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Mukut Mithi was here to attend a seminar, his government was toppled after 38 Congress legislators including ministers defected from the parent party and formed the Congress (D). In a similar fashion Apang was ousted by Mithi in 1999.

Subsequently, the Congress mlas along with two independents and one unattached mla formed udf, headed by Geong Apang and staked claim to form the government. Apang was sworn in as the Chief Minister along with 32 ministers of Cabinet rank and three ministers of state on August 3, after Mithi lost the vote of confidence by voice vote on August 2.

Apang, who was the Chief Minister for 19 years, formed the Arunachal Congress in 1996, which was one of the founder members of the ruling nda.

On the jumbo size ministry, Apang said, "my ministry is smaller than that of Mithi ... He had 42 ministers.’’ Apang’s ministry includes 20 of 22 members of the Mukut Mithi Ministry, who switched loyalties. There are 38 ministers in the Apang government — 34 Cabinet rank and three ministers of state apart from the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister exuded confidence that the udf would win the vote of confidence scheduled later this month. "In fact, some of the 18 Congress mlas might support us.’’

Categorically denying the Congress allgetion that he colluded with the nscn(i-m) to overthrow Mithi, Apang said, "such allegations are false and baseless... They defected because of Mithi’s wrong policies.’’

(UNI)