# 2009 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election

The Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election of 2009 took place in October 2009, concurrently with the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana. The elections were held in the state for all 60 Assembly seats on 2009-10-13. The results were declared on 2009-10-22. Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu's Indian National Congress party came back to power in the state with an increased majority, winning 42 seats in the 60 seat Assembly.

## Previous Assembly

In the 2004 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly election, Congress won 34 of the 60 seats and Congress leader Gegong Apang was elected as the Congress Legislative Party and was sworn in as the Chief Minister. Apang had defected from the Bharatiya Janata Party just a few weeks before the election. The BJP won win 9 seats.
However, in April 2007, 29 Congress legislators formally supported a change of leadership in the state Congress. The dissidents also claimed support from 2 NCP, 1 Arunachal Congress and 11 independent legislators. Apang, Arunachal's longest serving chief minister, was forced to step down on 2007-04-09 when the Congress legislators elected Power Minister Dorjee Khandu as the new Congress Legislative Party leader. Khandu was sworn in as the state's seventh Chief Minister by Nagaland Governor K. Sankaranarayanan on 2007-04-10.
In June of the same year, Khandu's Government received further strengthening when 8 out of the 9 BJP MLAs joined Congress, taking the strength of the party to 41.

## Background

The tenure of the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly was scheduled to expire on 2009-10-24. So the Election Commission of India announced on 2009-08-31 that the election to the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly would be held in October 2009.
Though Nationalist Congress Party and All India Trinamool Congress were Congress' allies at the Centre, in Arunachal Pradesh, they fought the election against Congress. The BJP was also in the fray in Arunachal, having formed their 1st Government in the North-East after Apang and his supporters had joined the BJP in August 2003.

## Schedule

| Poll Event | Dates |
| Announcement & Issue of Press Note | Monday, 31 Aug 2009 |
| Issue of Notification | Friday, 18 Sep 2009 |
| Last Date for filing Nominations | Friday, 25 Sep 2009 |
| Scrutiny of Nominations | Saturday, 26 Sep 2009 |
| Last date for withdrawal of Candidature | Tuesday, 29 Sep 2009 |
| Date of Poll | Tuesday, 13 Oct 2009 |
| Counting of Votes on | Thursday, 22 Oct 2009 |
| Date of election being completed | Sunday, 25 Oct 2009 |
| Constituencies Polling on this day | 60 |
| Source: Election Commission of India ||

## Results

Summary of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election result :
| Parties and Coalitions | Parties and Coalitions | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and Coalitions | Parties and Coalitions | Vote | % | +/- | Contested | Won | +/- |
| | Indian National Congress | 2,89,501 | 50.38 | | 60 | 42 | |
| | Nationalist Congress Party | 1,11,098 | 19.33 | | 36 | 5 | |
| | All India Trinamool Congress | 86,406 | 15.04 | | 26 | 5 | |
| | People's Party of Arunachal | 41,780 | 7.27 | | 11 | 4 | |
| | Bharatiya Janata Party | 29,929 | 5.21 | | 18 | 3 | |
| | Janata Dal (United) | 3,584 | 0.62 | | 3 | 0 | |
| | Independents | 12,364 | 2.15 | | 3 | 1 | |
| Total | Total | 5,74,662 | 100.00 | | 60 | 100.00 | ±0 |
Source:

### By constituency

Results :
| Assembly Constituency | Assembly Constituency | Winner | Winner | Winner | Winner | Runner Up | Runner Up | Runner Up | Runner Up | Margin |
| # | Name | Candidate | Party | Party | Votes | Candidate | Party | Party | Votes | Margin |
| 1 | Lumla | Jambey Tashi | | Indian National Congress | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed |
| 2 | Tawang | Tsewang Dhondup | | Indian National Congress | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed |
| 3 | Mukto | Dorjee Khandu | | Indian National Congress | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed | Elected Unopposed |
| 4 | Dirang | Phurpa Tsering | | People's Party of Arunachal | 6618 | Tsering Gyurme | | Indian National Congress | 5085 | 1533 |
| 5 | Kalaktang | Tenzing Norbu Thongdok | | Indian National Congress | 4189 | Rinchin Khandu Khrimey | | Nationalist Congress Party | 2958 | 1231 |
| 6 | Thrizino-Buragaon | Kumsi Sidisow | | People's Party of Arunachal | 8279 | Naresh Glow | | Indian National Congress | 3281 | 4998 |
| 7 | Bomdila | R T Khunjuju | | Indian National Congress | 4062 | Japu Deru | | Nationalist Congress Party | 3670 | 392 |
| 8 | Bameng | Kumar Waii | | Indian National Congress | 5647 | Tagung Neri | | All India Trinamool Congress | 2283 | 3364 |
| 9 | Chayangtajo | Karya Bagang | | All India Trinamool Congress | 3674 | Kameng Dolo | | Indian National Congress | 3332 | 342 |
| 10 | Seppa East | Tapuk Taku | | All India Trinamool Congress | 4666 | Tame Phassang | | Indian National Congress | 4374 | 292 |
| 11 | Seppa West | Tani Loffa | | All India Trinamool Congress | 2783 | Mama Natung | | Indian National Congress | 2472 | 311 |
| 12 | Pakke-Kessang | Atum Welly | | Indian National Congress | 2885 | Techi Hemu | | Nationalist Congress Party | 2818 | 67 |
| 13 | Itanagar | Techi Kaso | | Nationalist Congress Party | 13443 | Kipa Babu | | Indian National Congress | 10057 | 3386 |
| 14 | Doimukh | Nabam Rebia | | Indian National Congress | 6752 | Ngurang Pinch | | Nationalist Congress Party | 6154 | 598 |
| 15 | Sagalee | Nabam Tuki | | Indian National Congress | 6646 | Tad Tana | | Nationalist Congress Party | 2954 | 3692 |
| 16 | Yachuli | Likha Saaya | | Indian National Congress | 5638 | Nikh Kamin | | All India Trinamool Congress | 5596 | 42 |
| 17 | Ziro-Hapoli | Padi Richo | | Indian National Congress | 9569 | Nani Ribia | | All India Trinamool Congress | 6697 | 2872 |
| 18 | Palin | Takam Tagar | | People's Party of Arunachal | 6015 | Balo Raja | | Indian National Congress | 5326 | 689 |
| 19 | Nyapin | Bamang Felix | | Nationalist Congress Party | 4865 | Tatar Kipa | | Indian National Congress | 4126 | 739 |
| 20 | Tali | Markio Tado | | People's Party of Arunachal | 5261 | Takam Sorang | | Indian National Congress | 2548 | 2713 |
| 21 | Koloriang | Lokam Tassar | | Indian National Congress | 5095 | Kahfa Bengia | | Nationalist Congress Party | 3996 | 1099 |
| 22 | Nacho | Tanga Byaling | | Indian National Congress | 4878 | Ajit Nacho | | Bharatiya Janata Party | 1052 | 3826 |
| 23 | Taliha | Punji Mara | | Indian National Congress | 3570 | Nyato Rigia | | All India Trinamool Congress | 3164 | 406 |
| 24 | Daporijo | Tapen Siga | | Bharatiya Janata Party | 5009 | Yari Dulom | | Indian National Congress | 3806 | 1203 |
| 25 | Raga | Nido Pavitra | | Indian National Congress | 5460 | Aath Tacho Kabak | | Nationalist Congress Party | 4274 | 1186 |
| 26 | Dumporijo | Takar Marde | | Indian National Congress | 7493 | Paknga Bage | | Independent | 1735 | 5758 |
| 27 | Liromoba | Jarbom Gamlin | | Indian National Congress | 6640 | Bai Gadi | | Bharatiya Janata Party | 2748 | 3892 |
| 28 | Likabali | Jomde Kena | | Indian National Congress | 3420 | Yai Mara | | All India Trinamool Congress | 2527 | 893 |
| 29 | Basar | Gojen Gadi | | Indian National Congress | 8438 | Dakter Basar | | All India Trinamool Congress | 5317 | 3121 |
| 30 | Along West | Gadam Ete | | Indian National Congress | 5113 | Duter Padu | | All India Trinamool Congress | 5082 | 31 |
| 31 | Along East | Jarkar Gamlin | | Indian National Congress | 5175 | Yomto Jini | | All India Trinamool Congress | 4576 | 599 |
| 32 | Rumgong | Tamiyo Taga | | Bharatiya Janata Party | 3658 | Karma Jerang | | Janata Dal (United) | 2915 | 743 |
| 33 | Mechuka | Pasang Dorjee Sona | | Indian National Congress | 3973 | Tsering Naksang | | Nationalist Congress Party | 2423 | 1550 |
| 34 | Tuting-Yingkiong | Alo Libang | | Nationalist Congress Party | 4827 | Gegong Apang | | Indian National Congress | 3457 | 1370 |
| 35 | Pangin | Tapang Taloh | | Indian National Congress | 6826 | Kaling Jerang | | Nationalist Congress Party | 4045 | 2781 |
| 36 | Nari-Koyu | Tako Dabi | | Indian National Congress | 3398 | Kenyir Ringu | | Nationalist Congress Party | 2656 | 742 |
| 37 | Pasighat West | Tangor Tapak | | Bharatiya Janata Party | 5529 | Omak Apang | | Indian National Congress | 4868 | 661 |
| 38 | Pasighat East | Bosiram Siram | | Indian National Congress | 8908 | Kaling Moyong | | Nationalist Congress Party | 5683 | 3225 |
| 39 | Mebo | Ralom Borang | | Nationalist Congress Party | 5142 | Lombo Tayeng | | Indian National Congress | 4555 | 587 |
| 40 | Mariyang-Geku | J K Panggeng | | Indian National Congress | 4165 | Raising Perme | | Nationalist Congress Party | 2885 | 1280 |
| 41 | Anini | Rajesh Tacho | | Indian National Congress | 1730 | Eri Tayu | | Nationalist Congress Party | 1649 | 81 |
| 42 | Dambuk | Jomin Tayeng | | Nationalist Congress Party | 4967 | Roding Pertin | | Indian National Congress | 4837 | 130 |
| 43 | Roing | Laeta Umbrey | | All India Trinamool Congress | 5170 | Pomoya Mithi | | Indian National Congress | 4337 | 833 |
| 44 | Tezu | Karikho Kri | | Indian National Congress | 8397 | Nakul Chai | | All India Trinamool Congress | 4552 | 3845 |
| 45 | Hayuliang | Kalikho Pul | | Indian National Congress | 7788 | Baritlum Ama | | All India Trinamool Congress | 998 | 6790 |
| 46 | Chowkham | Chow Tewa Mein | | Indian National Congress | 6279 | Chow Chinakong Namchoom | | Nationalist Congress Party | 4023 | 2256 |
| 47 | Namsai | Nang Sati Mein | | Independent | 10447 | Chow Pingthika Namchoom | | All India Trinamool Congress | 4778 | 5699 |
| 48 | Lekang | Chowna Mein | | Indian National Congress | 6896 | James Techi Tara | | Nationalist Congress Party | 3950 | 2946 |
| 49 | Bordumsa-Diyun | C C Singpho | | Indian National Congress | 6193 | Khumral Lungphi | | Nationalist Congress Party | 5238 | 955 |
| 50 | Miao | Kamlung Mossang | | Indian National Congress | 9151 | Samchom Ngemu | | Nationalist Congress Party | 6180 | 2971 |
| 51 | Nampong | Setong Sena | | Indian National Congress | 5432 | Tosham Mossang | | Independent | 1582 | 3850 |
| 52 | Changlang South | Phosum Khimhun | | Indian National Congress | 2904 | Tengam Ngemu | | All India Trinamool Congress | 950 | 1954 |
| 53 | Changlang North | Thinghaap Taiju | | Indian National Congress | 4088 | Wangnia Pongte | | All India Trinamool Congress | 2834 | 1254 |
| 54 | Namsang | Wangki Lowang | | Indian National Congress | 4968 | Wanglong Rajkumar | | Nationalist Congress Party | 2275 | 2693 |
| 55 | Khonsa East | Kamthok Lowang | | All India Trinamool Congress | 3475 | T.L. Rajkumar | | Indian National Congress | 3020 | 455 |
| 56 | Khonsa West | Yumsem Matey | | Indian National Congress | 4030 | Thajam Aboh | | All India Trinamool Congress | 3562 | 468 |
| 57 | Borduria-Bagapani | Wanglin Lowangdong | | Indian National Congress | 4034 | Tonhang Tongluk | | Nationalist Congress Party | 1908 | 2126 |
| 58 | Kanubari | Newlai Tingkhatra | | Indian National Congress | 4859 | Gabriel Denwang Wangsu | | People's Party of Arunachal | 4189 | 670 |
| 59 | Longding-Pumao | Thangwang Wangham | | Indian National Congress | 4763 | Tanpho Wangnaw | | People's Party of Arunachal | 4178 | 585 |
| 60 | Pongchau-Wakka | Honchun Ngandam | | Indian National Congress | 7531 | Anok Wangsa | | People's Party of Arunachal | 2976 | 4555 |

## Government Formation

The Congress party won 42 of the 60 seats in the Assembly, including 3 uncontested seats - Dorjee Khandu from Mukto, Tsewang Dhondup from Tawang and Jambey Tashi from Lumla. Seasoned Congressman, seven times MLA and former chief minister, Gegong Apang, and his son Omak Apang both lost the elections. While Gegong lost to Nationalist Congress Party, his son was defeated by Bharatiya Janata Party candidate. Without the competition from Gegong, Dorjee Khandu was smoothly elected as the Congress Legislative Party leader on 2009-10-24.
Khandu was sworn in for his 2nd term as the Chief Minister by Governor Joginder Jaswant Singh at the Darbar Hall of the Itanagar Raj Bhawan on 2009-10-25.