Itanagar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had taken over power in Arunachal Pradesh after the majority of the Congress MLAs defected to it in August 2003, today (Oct 2, 2004) conceded defeat five days ahead of the Assembly elections in the State on October seven.

Swami Chinmayananda, in-charge of the election for the BJP in the State told a press conference today that as a result of Chief Minister Gegong Apang's sudden switchover to the Congress with all his supporters last month, the party could not field candidates in all the 60 seats.

The BJP is contesting in only 38 seats with one of its candidate retiring from the fray at the last moment.

Chinmayananda said had Apang not crossed over to the Congress at the last moment BJP would have returned to power for certain because the party had already received the mandate of the people who elected its candidates from both the Lok Sabha seats in the State with a thumping majority during the April election.

Asked if he was not doing a disservice to BJP candidates by conceding defeat before the polls, Chinmayananda said, "We have accepted the role of opposition in the new Assembly which is an important role in a democratic set up."

He wanted Apang to clarify what transpired between him and Congress leaders, which prompted him to join that party lock stock and barrel. "Was there any pressure on him in the form of threat of a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) enquiry against him and some of his colleagues?" he asked.