Arunachal CM and PCC chief offer to resign

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin and his party rival PCC Chief Nabam Tuki today offered to resign from their posts amid dissidence in the state's ruling Congress on the leadership issue. Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said no decision on the resignation offer has yet been taken but said Congress president Sonia Gandhi would soon take a view on the issue.

"The Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister and the PCC Chief have offered to submit their resignation. As of now, no decision has been taken. It is under consideration," Singhvi said.

A three-member team of AICC observers, which had visited the state for taking stock of the feud in the party unit there, today submitted its report to the Congress President.

The committee consisted of AICC in-charge for the state Dhaniram Shandil, former Union Minister BK Handique and Union Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. All the three observers met Gandhi and apprised her of the political situation in the state.

Senior party leader Oscar Fernandez and Gandhi's Political Secretary Ahamed Patel were also present in the meeting that discussed at length the available options in the state.

The rift between the PCC Chief and the Chief Minister had become a big issue in the state dividing the party along ethnic lines. Gamlin had become Chief Minister on May 6 following the death of Chief Dorjee Khandu in a helicopter crash.