Itanagar: The Congress was today (Oct 10, 2004) poised to retain power in Arunachal Pradesh having bagged 25 seats, six of short of majority on its own in the 60-member State assembly with counting for 14 more seats to be taken up tomorrow (Oct 11, 2004).

Independents, mostly rebel Congressmen, came to the fore as the second largest legislative group with 12 seats while BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), which drew a blank in the previous assembly polls in 1999, opened its account in the house with six seats.

However, Congress lost a number of heavyweights, including Home minister L Wanglat, PWD minister Lechi Legi and Parliamentary Affairs minister T L Rajkumar in the face of stiff fight from rebel party candidates contesting as Independents and BJP, NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) and Arunachal Congress, after many years.

While Independents emerged as the second largest group with 12 seats so far in sharp contrast to just two in the dissolved house, the BJP, which drew a blank in the last assembly elections in 1999, has this time secured six seats so far.

The NCP won two seats and AC secured one out of a total 46 seats counting for which was completed tonight. The counting for remaining 11 (Congress has already won three seats unopposed) is scheduled tomorrow.

State Congress President Mukut Mithi indicated his party might take the help of independents.