Facing heat from dissidents, the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Jarbom Gamlin, today tendered his resignation to the Governor paving the way for election of a new leader.

The new Congress Legislature Party leader is likely to be selected tomorrow by the AICC president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, party sources said.

Earlier in the day, 42 Congress MLAs adopted a one-point resolution authorising Ms Gandhi to appoint a new CLP leader.

The resolution said, “We the party MLAs are authorising Sonia Gandhi to nominate the CLP leader.” It was read out to mediapersons by AICC observer and Union Power Minister, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde.

The party MLAs held a meeting where Mr Shinde and two other observers – former DoNER Minister, Mr B.K. Handique, and the party's general secretary and in-charge of Arunachal Pradesh, Mr Dhaniram Shandil – were present.

Dissidence

The change in leadership was demanded by a majority of Congress MLAs led by dissident leader Nabam Tuki.

On October 29, both Mr Gamlin and his party rival PCC chief Mr Tuki had offered to resign from their posts. The AICC president had met both of them that evening.

The rift between Mr Tuki and Mr Gamlin had become a major issue dividing the party along ethnic lines in the State with the majority of Congress legislators demanding Mr Gamlin's resignation for his alleged “authoritarian rule.”

Mr Gamlin was sworn in Chief Minister on May 5 after the death of Dorjee Khandu in a helicopter crash.

In the 60-member House, Congress has 42 members and allies Trinamool Congress 5 and NCP 5.

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