The state unit of the Nationalist People’s Party (NPP) on Saturday announced its first list of 29 candidates for the April 19 assembly elections. The list prepared by party national general secretary James PK Sangma includes three sitting MLAs, one former minister and three former MLAs. The list also includes 22 candidates contesting for the first time. Among the key contenders is former two-time MLA and current party state unit president Thangwang Wangam, who will contest from Longding-Pumao constituency in Longding district. Also Read – NLG police recover more stolen goods Advertisement 00:00 Previous PlayNext Mute Fullscreen Copy video url Play / Pause Mute / Unmute Language Share ADVERTISEMENT The party said former minister Japu Deru will contest from Bomdila constituency, while former Legislators Tani Lofa and Dicto Yekar will contest from Seppa West and Daporijo constituencies respectively. Other important candidates include sitting independent MLA Karikho Kri, who will contest re-election from Tezu constituency, and sitting NPP MLA Gokar Basar, contesting re-election from Basar. Dorji Wangdi Karma, the sitting BJP MLA from Kalaktang constituency, was not given the ticket but will contest as the NPP candidate. Also Read – 9 BJP candidates file nomination for assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma-led NPP’s decision to refrain from fielding candidates on two Lok Sabha seats in the state and instead support BJP candidates, Reflects its alliance with the North East Democratic Alliance. James Sangma said the party held several review meetings with the state leadership before finalizing the list of candidates. He expressed confidence in the rapid growth of NPP and termed it among the fastest growing political parties in the country along with BJP, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Also Read – Clothes, essential items donated to DNLH Sangma also expressed optimism about the possibility of a Northeast candidate becoming Prime Minister in the future. Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are to be held simultaneously in Arunachal, with counting of votes for the Assembly elections taking place on June 2 and for the Lok Sabha elections on June 4. While the BJP has announced its candidates for all the assembly seats, the Congress has so far announced 34 candidates, the NCP 17 and the regional People’s Party of Arunachal PPA two. Also Read – Nationalist People’s Party announces first list of candidates for assembly elections In the 2019 assembly elections, BJP had won 41 seats, JD(U) seven, NPP five, Congress four and PPA one seat. Apart from this, two independent candidates had won. In the last elections also, the ruling party had won both the Lok Sabha seats. Arunachal has two Lok Sabha seats and a 60-member assembly, the tenure of the current assembly ends on June 2.
