In a surprising move, former minister and one of the heavyweight politicians of the state, Kumar Waii, has rejoined the Congress party. Another former minister, Rajesh Tacho, has also rejoined the party. This development comes just months ahead of the general and assembly elections, and has naturally got Congress workers excited. It has also surprised many seasoned political watchers of the state. Waii had contested the 2019 election on an NPP ticket from the Bameng assembly constituency in East Kameng district and had lost to BJP nominee Goruk Pordung.
Everyone expected him to continue to be in the NPP and fight elections from it. It seems like the recent election victory in Karnataka and the aggressive campaign launched by the Congress, using the Bharat Jodo Yatra, seems to have once again made the grand old party attractive for the politicians. For now it is not clear whether Waii will fight election on a Congress ticket from the Bameng assembly election. He is keeping his cards close to his chest and has not spoken much about his next move. The Congress in the state has been losing the majority of its leaders and workers to the ruling BJP. Barring some, the majority of the top leaders of the party have joined the BJP in the last nine years. This was expected, considering the political nature of the state. Even though the joining of former Kumar Waii will definitely excite the party workers, it is still early days. The Congress leaders in the state have to really work hard if they want to revive the party. It is easier said than done.