Shruti Suman
The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in Arunachal Pradesh were held in the first phase on April 19, with two Members of Parliament elected from the constituencies of Arunachal West and Arunachal East.
In the Arunachal West Lok Sabha constituency, which includes Tawang, West Kameng, East Kameng, Papum Pare, Lower Subansiri, Kurung Kumey, Upper Subansiri, and West Siang districts, there was a significant contest between two prominent figures: the incumbent Union Minister and BJP MP Kiren Rijiju, and the Congress candidate Nabam Tuki, with a voter turnout of 70.11%.
Kiren Rijiju, BJP:
Kiren Rijiju has secured victory from this seat three times, in 2004, 2014, and 2019. He currently serves as the Cabinet Minister of Earth Sciences and Food Processing Industries in the Government of India since 2023 and 2024.
Previously, he held positions such as Minister of State for Home Affairs (2014-2019), Minister of State for Minority Affairs (2019-2021), Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Sports and Youth Affairs (2019-2021), and Minister of Law (2021-2023).
Nabam Tuki, Congress:
Nabam Tuki of Congress is considered the primary political rival of Kiren Rijiju from the BJP. Tuki has served as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh twice, between 2011 and 2016.
His first term lasted from November 2011 to January 2016, while the second term was brief, lasting only 3 days in July 2016.
Tuki currently holds the position of MLA from Papumpare district, having been elected for six consecutive terms.
Although Tuki lost the Arunachal West seat to Rijiju in 2019, he expresses confidence in winning this time.
