It was a matter of some consequence, if not fanfare, when the BJP’s Tai Tagak was made unopposed for the state’s only Rajya Sabha berth on Thursday. In one sense it is business as usual for the BJP in the Upper House; in another, it paves the way for an easy changeover once the present term is up on June 23rd.
Once the 3 pm deadline for pulling out of the race had passed with no one to challenge him, the result was in. Tadar Meena, the returning officer and secretary of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, put the stamp on it, in keeping with the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the 1961 Conduct of Elections Rules, the secretariat says.
What the unopposed win means for Arunachal
Pema Khandu was quick to offer his felicitations to Tagak, and in doing so, presented the win as a green light to be the state’s advocate in Parliament. “He will make Arunachal’s voice heard in a big way,” the chief minister said, adding that the old hand at politics will be of service to the country and the state alike.
In practical terms, the BJP doesn’t have to worry about losing its representation here. For the party, it is a sign of how well-organised they are and a chance to get on with their agenda in the state without the hassle of an election to fight.
Inside the declaration ceremony
They made it official at the Nokmey Namati Hall in the Assembly complex. You had the likes of Pawan Kumar Sain, the state’s top electoral officer, along with Joint CEO Liken Koyu, assistant returning officer Longman Ronrang and some of the party’s senior people in the room for it.
Afterwards, Tagak made his way to see Speaker Tesam Pongte, who put in a good word for him and wished him well as he takes on what comes with a place in the Council of States.
Tagak’s journey from grassroots to Parliament
For Tagak, this is a nod to where he’s come from. He’ll tell you he was a child labourer back in ’81 and ’82, making a living of two rupees a day to bring home some drinking water. A few years on, while in school, he was putting in time for five rupees a day.
Now 54, he has been around the block. He was with the RSS as a unit organiser in Arunachal starting in 1989, and by September 1995 he was in the BJP. From there he worked his way up to state general secretary, then spokesperson, and finally to the top job as state president in 2013.
You can put some of the party’s better showings on his account. While he was in charge from 2013 to 2015, the BJP put up 11 in the Assembly, took the Arunachal West Lok Sabha and saw their vote share hit 31 per cent or so. Then in 2016, he was instrumental in the BJP forming a government for the first time in the state. He has also been on hand as an adviser to the CM for two stints now.
The kind of resume that has party leaders pointing to:
– State BJP president (2013-15)
– A part of making the 2016 government happen
– Two rounds as the CM’s adviser
– Patron of the Arunachal Shiksha Vikas Samiti
Why there was no contest
The numbers don’t lie: one nomination was put in and that was it. A note from the secretariat has it that the 3 pm announcement by the returning officer was all in order with the law.
You have to have an election because Nabam Rebia’s time in the Rajya Sabha is up on the 23rd. With only one name in the hat, it was more of a formality than anything else.
What Tagak says he stands for
“This is the BJP's way of showing it has faith in its workers,” is how Tagak puts it. He sees it as in line with the prime minister’s idea of building a ‘Viksit Bharat’ with folks who haven’t been in the political trenches. And he won’t mince words: in the party, you are valued for your hard work and your team spirit.
