Arunachal Pradesh: BJP Backs Chief Minister Amidst CBI Probe, While Reiterating No Leadership Changes.

Itanagar; June 2026: In Arunachal Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has backed Chief Minister Pema Khandu amid speculation over his political future following a Supreme Court directed CBI inquiry, asserting that there is no question of a leadership change while an investigation is under way. The party’s comment came a day after an Assam-based news portal reported that Khandu would resign in view of the ongoing CBI probe, triggering social media speculation across the State.

The learned Supreme Court in April this year (2026) had ordered a preliminary CBI inquiry into charges that public work contracts worth approximately Rs 1,270 crore were awarded between 2015 and 2025 to firms allegedly linked to members of Khandu’s family. The Supreme Court on April 06th had directed the CBI to register within two weeks a preliminary inquiry into allegations of preferential allotment of contracts for public work in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly owned or related to the family members of Chief Minister Khandu.

Observing that the state and its instrumentalities cannot confer benefits according to the “whims of any political or administrative functionary”, the apex court said it was a fit case where an “independent investigation” was necessary. The bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath said where a case concerns the integrity of public procurement and involves allegations of conflict of interest at the highest levels, an investigation must not only be fair but also must appear fair. The probe is currently under way.

Addressing reporters at the party’s headquarters here, State BJP president Kaling Moyong said it would fully respect the judicial process and would not take any decision until the investigation reaches its conclusion. “If the Supreme Court delivers a verdict against the Chief Minister, the party will take an appropriate decision. But not now, as the investigation is still going on”, Moyong said.

Senior BJP leaders in the State maintained that the party remains united and that there has been “no discussion on a change of leadership” despite attempts to fuel speculation through unverified reports circulating on social media and digital platforms. Reiterating the support for the Chief Minister, BJP general secretary Tadar Niglar said all party legislators remained united under Khandu’s leadership and dismissed speculations of division within the ruling party.

Niglar said, “All 46 party MLAs are under one umbrella and under one leadership. There is no division within the party”, Niglar said. He warned that the party would initiate disciplinary action against those found to be involved in spreading misinformation regarding the Chief Minister’s alleged resignation. “However, if anyone from the BJP is behind this fake news, we will take stringent action against that individual”, Niglar added.

BJP’s additional general secretary, Junty Singpho, expressed confidence in the judicial system and the Chief Minister, stating that the truth would emerge through due process. “We believe in the judiciary, and we also believe in our Chief Minister. We are confident that he will come clean from these allegations”, she said.

Meanwhile, the Itanagar district unit of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) on Sunday lodged a complaint at the Itanagar police station against the publication that carried the report on Khandu’s alleged resignation. According to a statement shared by the BJYM on its official Facebook page, the organisation accused the publication of “spreading false and misleading information with the intent to create confusion and destabilise the political atmosphere in Arunachal Pradesh”, and sought legal action against those responsible.

Earlier, on the 19th of last month (May 2026) the Indian National Congress, had questioned why Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has not been removed even after the Supreme Court directed the CBI to begin a probe into charges of corruption against him. In a social media post, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said this amounts to “gross travesty” of the Supreme Court order itself.

Jairam Ramesh had stated that “it was on April 6, 2026, that a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court directed the CBI to commence a preliminary inquiry into allegations that Khandu’s family was awarded contracts worth Rs 1,270 crore over 10 years from January 2015 to December 2025 in a direct conflict of interest”.

“This is not an order of a lower court or a High Court. It is of the Supreme Court. Yet the CM continues in office. He is also the PWD Minister and controls the files that the CBI will need to conduct its inquiry” Ramesh’s post read.                                                                                        Team Maverick.