ITANAGAR, Jan 24 (PTI): The People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) on Tuesday named Leki Norbu, a former ‘gaon burah’ (village headman), as its candidate for the upcoming by-election in Lumla constituency in Tawang district.
PPA secretary general Kaling Jerang, at a press conference here, said the regional party would fight the election on the plank of corruption and lack of development in the assembly seat.
“The PPA will provide good governance if voted to power in the next assembly elections due next year. By launching our nominee for the bypoll, we have started our process for the assembly polls where we will field candidates,” he said.
Jerang said the by-election provides an opportunity for the people to elect a good leader for Lumla constituency, which has been “deprived of development for the last several years”, and that people should give the party a fair chance.
Norbu alleged that the constituency has not witnessed any development for the last several years and funds meant for development were siphoned off.
“A huge amount of funds were pumped in by the government but those never reached the needy,” he said.
The by-election, scheduled to be held on February 27, was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MLA Jambey Tashi, who was 48. He represented the constituency three times since 2009.
The counting of votes would take place on March 2.
A total of 9,169 voters, including 4,712 women, are eligible to cast their votes in 33 polling booths in the constituency.