Itanagar, Jan. 30: Former Arunachal Pradesh home minister Neelam Taram rejoined the BJP here today after severing a two-decade-old association with the Congress. Taram, a Christian leader, was the home minister in the erstwhile Congress government led by Gegong Apang.
Considered a die-hard supporter of the Congress, Taram maintained his political affiliation even when the entire Assembly had switched side to Arunachal Congress formed by Apang in late 1995.
Taram was the choice of the then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao to replace Apang, who was becoming unpopular with the party leadership for his stand on the Chakma-Hajong issue. However, Apang played the card and formed the Arunachal Congress to retain the chief minister?s chair.
Taram, who unsuccessfully contested the 1984 Assembly election as a BJP candidate, said the party was completely secular without any ?communal element? as described by the Congress. ?My Christian identity was no bar for me to join the BJP under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee who is great visionary leader,? Taram said.
?Congress is a party, which is not sure and decisive about even its own leader and prime ministerial candidate,? he said.
When asked to comment on the BJP?s ?Hindutva? agenda, Taram said, ?The agenda has been dropped.?
The ruling BJP received another shot in the arm when three prominent youth Congress leaders of the state ? Likha Maj, Nikh Kamin and Tame Phassang ? joined the party.
Formally welcoming them to the party fold, state BJP president Taba Hare said the party had been ?enriched after the joining of a seasoned and very senior political leader like Taram and three sincere youth leaders.?
The party looks forward to greater successes in the state, he said.
Hare further said Tawang zila parishad chairperson, five zila parishad members and seven anchal samity chairpersons along with a large number of their followers joined the BJP.