A Bharatiya Janata Party MLA’s decision not to contest the Assembly election on April 11 has cost him a part of his house.
Likha Saaya, who represents the Yachuli Assembly constituency, was dropped from the BJP’s list of candidates along with other party MLAs, including three ministers. But while most of them switched over to other parties to contest, Mr. Likha decided to give the election a miss.
This did not go down well with a section of his supporters, who allegedly stormed into his house in Nirjuli, about 20 km from State capital Itanagar, vandalised his property and set fire to furniture and other articles on the premises.
Superintendent of Police Tumme Amo said the incident happened late Sunday night and the police soon brought the situation under control.
“The people involved in the vandalism broke window panes and burnt chairs. The interiors were not damaged and the people inside were safe,” he said.
Mr. Likha declined to either comment on the incident or what made him decide not to contest the election.
Minister Nabam Rebia, also dropped from the BJP list of candidates, has decided not to contest his pet Doimukh constituency too. A shopping complex and law academy owned by Mr. Nabam had been damaged during the February protests against issuing permanent resident certificates (PRC) to non-tribal communities.
The protests led to the death of three men in police firing, forcing the Pema Khandu government to drop the PRC issue “once and for all”.
