Itanagar:
Congress swept the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly polls on Thursday. The party bagged 42 seats in a 60-member House. While the NCP managed six seats, the Trinamool Congress bagged five and the BJP could garner only three seats. Four seats went to others.
The party won three seats uncontested. Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu was declared elected unopposed from Mukto, besides Jambey Tashi from Lumla and Tsewang Dhondup from Tawang.
This has reportedly been the most expensive election ever in the state, with candidates allegedly spending crores of rupees.
But the Chief Minister insists that people have voted for development. "I don't know how much money was spent. I gave the people a development package and that's what the voter voted for," he said. Ironically, he is one of the 63 crorepati candidates in a state that scores low on development.
For voters in Arunachal Pradesh, counting day seems to have become a grand festival that comes every five years - because of the way they are wooed. Distribution of cash and vehicles to voters is routine.
In capital Itanagar alone, voters were given 250 unregistered motorcycles as gifts just days before polling. "These are for us to move around during campaigns. The candidates give us motorcycles, because they want to serve us," explains a delighted voter.
Arunachal Pradesh ranks amongst the most backward states in India, with 33% people below poverty line according to the human development index.
The question is, with personal gains keeping the voters happy, is there hope for any real progress?