Ten candidates from the ruling BJP have won unopposed in Arunachal Pradesh’s Assembly elections, a feat attributed by the party to the “unprecedented” progress witnessed under its tenure since 2014.

However, the record for the highest number of uncontested wins belongs to the Opposition Congress, which secured 11 such victories in the 2014 Assembly polls during the tenure of former chief minister Nabam Tuki.

Ashok Singhal, the party’s in-charge for Arunachal’s parliamentary elections, disclosed at a news conference in Itanagar, alongside chief minister Pema Khandu on Saturday, that among the 10 BJP candidates who won uncontested were the chief minister (Mukto) and the deputy chief minister Chowna Mein (Chowkham).

The other eight victorious BJP candidates include Ratu Techi (Sagalee), Jikke Tako (Tali), Nyato Dukam (Taliha), Mutchu Mithi (Roing), Hage Appa (Ziro-Hapoli), Techi Kaso (Itanagar), Dongru Sionglu (Bomdila) and Dasanglu Pul (Hayuliang).

Singhal attributed this feat to the remarkable progress and accomplishments witnessed under the BJP-led government at the Centre since 2014 and Pema Khandu’s leadership in the state since 2016. They expressed confidence in securing victory in all 60 Assembly seats and retaining the two Lok Sabha seats.

Simultaneous Assembly and parliamentary polls are scheduled for April 19 in Arunachal Pradesh.

Among the uncontested seats was Sagalee, the stronghold of former chief minister Tuki, who is now contesting the Arunachal West Lok Sabha seat against Union minister Kiren Rijiju.

Khandu emphasised that uncontested victories are not unprecedented in Arunachal Pradesh but underscored the BJP’s performance-based politics in the state. He noted that the prevailing sentiment favours the ruling party.

Celebrating the uncontested wins at the party office, Khandu credited the people’s trust in Modi’s guarantee and the government’s commitment to comprehensive development of the state.

The trend of uncontested wins dates back to the nineties, with Khandu himself securing victory uncontested three times — in 2011, 2014 and 2024 from Mukto in Tawang district.

Though the Opposition Congress faces a challenging electoral landscape due to significant defections, party leaders stress that uncontested victories do not necessarily indicate one-sided dominance. They point out that Arunachal Pradesh historically aligns with the party in power atthe Centre.

“If there is a change at the Centre after the LS polls, expect a change in Arunachal also,” a Congress leader said, highlighting the potential influence of national politics on state dynamics.

In the 2019 Assembly polls, the BJP won 41 seats, while the Congress secured only four. However, in 2014, the Congress had a commanding victory with 42 seats.

In another electoral development, Tejang Chakma, editor of The Chakma Reporter, has petitioned the Election Commission for a high-level inquiry into the alleged rejection of Drishyamuni Chakma’s candidature from the Bordumsa-Diyun Assembly constituency due to “insufficient documents”. Chakma also seeks the suspension of the returning officer.