Arunachal: BJP strengthens Liromoba base with induction of former student leader, singer ahead of 2029 polls

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has moved to strengthen its grassroots presence in Arunachal Pradesh’s Liromoba Assembly constituency, which it lost to the National People’s Party (NPP) in the 2024 Assembly elections, by inducting former student leader Ritum Tali and noted singer Jeli Kayi Tamin.

The two new entrants were accorded a warm welcome by BJP leaders at programmes held in Aalo and Kamba town in West Siang district.

BJP Arunachal Pradesh vice-president Ashok Sangchoju, state secretary Joram Tat, party leader Beli Gadi and other senior functionaries participated in the programmes, marking what party leaders described as a new phase in efforts to strengthen the organisation in the Liromoba constituency.

A gathering was also held at the BJP Liromoba Mandal office in Kamba, where party leaders said the induction of prominent local faces would help expand the party’s reach and consolidate its grassroots network.

Liromoba witnessed a political shift in the 2024 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections when NPP candidate Pesi Jilen won the seat with 7,206 votes, defeating sitting BJP MLA Nyamar Karbak by a margin of 1,698 votes.

Karbak had won the constituency for the BJP in the 2019 Assembly elections.

Reacting to Ritum Tali’s entry into the party, Karbak, who is also the chairman of Information Technology and E-Governance, said he did not view the induction as a political challenge but as an opportunity to jointly strengthen the BJP at the grassroots level.

“I have given 12 years to the BJP, and it is not merely a political party for me—it is like my home. Whatever the party high command decides in 2029, I will abide by it,” Karbak said.

“Our objective should be to strengthen the party and follow its ideology and principles,” he added.

Ritum Tali said the development work carried out by the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Arunachal Pradesh over the past 12 years had inspired him to join the party.

He said he hoped to serve the people through the BJP’s ideology and principles and contribute to strengthening the party in the Liromoba constituency.

Meanwhile, BJP Arunachal Pradesh vice-president Ashok Sangchoju rejected speculation that the party was searching for a new face for Liromoba ahead of the next Assembly elections.

Speaking to India Today, Sangchoju said the BJP follows established organisational principles while selecting candidates and that the latest inductions should not be viewed as an exercise to identify a replacement candidate.

“The BJP, being the world’s largest political party, follows its principles and established processes while deciding on party tickets. The joining of these leaders is aimed at strengthening the grassroots organisation in Liromoba and serving the aspirations of the people,” he said.

The induction comes as the BJP seeks to rebuild its organisational base in Liromoba after the constituency slipped from its control in the 2024 Assembly elections.