Itanagar, Sept. 6: The ruling Congress in Arunachal Pradesh today blew the poll bugle with its newly-appointed president, Nabam Tuki, making his intentions clear on turning the tables on the Opposition by regaining the state’s two Lok Sabha seats currently held by the BJP.

“The Congress party is determined to regain both the Arunachal East and West parliamentary seats at present retained by the BJP. My priority will be to ensure that the Congress party gets those two seats from the state. As a loyal party member, I will ensure proper co-ordination between the party and the government, for which I am also a part as a minister,” Tuki said.

Tuki further said with both Lok Sabha and Assembly polls due next year, he will prioritise issues like strengthening party roots in the state with placating disgruntled party men through dialogues, besides cracking the whip on elements working against the party’s interest in the state.

On the functioning of the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), he said the previous committee was dissolved and a new committee will be formed with the induction of young as well as experienced party loyalists keeping an eye on next year’s polls.

“The Congress party, which has now 44 MLAs and with 14 Independents and two Arunachal Congress members supporting it looks all set to return in power next year,” he said.

Tuki, who is also PWD and urban development minister in the Dorjee Khandu-led Congress ministry, was appointed as the APCC president on August 30.

signalling the end of a “crisis” arising out of the demise of former APCC president Omem Moyong Deori in December last year.

Tuki’s name was projected as the “suitable candidate” for the post, though many party heavyweights like former PCC president and rural development minister Talo Mugli and former tax and excise minister T.C. Teli also threw their hats into the ring for the post.

Tuki’s appointment as PCC president became all clear with Khandu strongly backing him. Political analysts say the coming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls will be “acid test” for the leadership skills of Tuki as the party has to find ways and means to pacify party ticket seekers, including nine former BJP legislators.

The BJP had won nine seats in the state in the 2004 Assembly elections. In the 60-member Assembly, the Congress now has 44 MLAs. With 14 Independents and two Arunachal Congress legislators backing it, the state has no Opposition at all. Kiren Rijiju and Tapir Gao of the BJP hold the Arunachal West and East parliamentary constituency seats respectively.