Itanagar: The Congress is on course to retain power in Arunachal Pradesh having won 21 of the 39 seats, 10 short of a majority, results for which were declared today (Oct 10, 2004). After many years the Congress faced a fight from the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), which had won six seats after drawing a blank in the last election.

Ten seats have gone to Independents many of whom are rebel Congressmen. They are expected to play a role in ministry making.

The NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) and the regional party, Arunachal Congress, have bagged one seat each.

Among the successful Congress candidates are the APCC (Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee) chief Mukut Mithi who was re-elected from his old constituency, Roing, defeating Laeta Umbrey by over 1300 votes.

Laeta, a former Congress Lok Sabha member, is a Congress rebel leader.

The first Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, P K Thungon, who ruled the then Union territory as a Janata Party leader for two years from 1978, suffered an ignominious defeat when he polled only 819 votes in a four-cornered contest for the Bomdiala seat. The fate of Arunachal Chief Minister Gegong Apang will be known only tomorrow (Oct 11, 2004) when counting of votes in Yingkoing, his constituency, will be taken up along with 11 others, election office sources said today.

Counting is on in 45 of the 57 seats today with three of the seats having gone unopposed to the Congress.