Itanagar, aug 2: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has stepped up efforts to strengthen its grassroots organisation in Arunachal Pradesh’s Liromoba Assembly constituency by inducting former student leader Ritum Tali and noted singer Jeli Kayi Tamin, more than a year after the party lost the seat in the 2024 Assembly elections.
The two leaders were formally welcomed into the party at programmes held in Aalo and Kamba town in West Siang district. BJP Arunachal Pradesh vice-president Ashok Sangchoju, state secretary Joram Tat, senior leader Beli Gadi and other party functionaries attended the events.
A separate gathering at the BJP Liromoba Mandal office in Kamba highlighted the party’s efforts to expand its organisational base, with leaders expressing confidence that the induction of prominent local figures would strengthen its outreach in the constituency.
Liromoba witnessed a political setback for the BJP in the 2024 Assembly elections when National People’s Party (NPP) candidate Pesi Jilen secured victory with 7,206 votes, defeating sitting BJP MLA Nyamar Karbak by 1,698 votes. Karbak had won the constituency in the 2019 Assembly elections.
Responding to Ritum Tali’s induction, Karbak said he did not see the development as a political challenge but as an opportunity to collectively strengthen the party at the grassroots level.
Stating that he had devoted 12 years to the BJP, Karbak said the party was like a home to him and that he would abide by whatever decision the leadership takes regarding the 2029 Assembly elections. He added that the primary objective should be to strengthen the party and uphold its ideology and principles.
Ritum Tali said the developmental initiatives undertaken 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 looked forward to serving the people through the BJP’s ideology while contributing to the party’s growth in the Liromoba constituency.
Meanwhile, BJP state vice-president Ashok Sangchoju dismissed speculation that the party was searching for a new candidate for Liromoba ahead of the next Assembly elections.
Speaking to India Today, Sangchoju said the BJP follows established organisational procedures while selecting candidates and that the latest inductions should not be interpreted as part of any ticket-selection exercise.
He said the induction of new members was intended solely to strengthen the party’s grassroots organisation in Liromoba and better serve the aspirations of the people. The move comes as the BJP seeks to rebuild its presence in the constituency after losing the seat in the 2024 Assembly elections.
