Arunachal Pradesh in 2024 showcased a mix of political dominance, social reforms, and troubling revelations. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a historic third consecutive term, clinching 46 of the 60 assembly seats in simultaneous Lok Sabha and state elections.
Yet, the state also battled a darker narrative with widespread child trafficking cases surfacing, leaving a scar on its social fabric.
The BJP’s resounding success included ten uncontested wins, a testament to its development-focused campaign under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
Party allies also performed well, with the National People’s Party retaining five seats, the Nationalist Congress Party securing three, and the People’s Party of Arunachal claiming two.
Three independents emerged victorious, while the Congress suffered a debacle, winning just one of 19 contested seats.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu attributed the BJP’s dominance to “development initiatives under the NDA government,” while Congress state president Nabam Tuki pledged to continue the fight for the rights of the people despite the electoral setback.
In the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP retained both parliamentary seats, cementing its political supremacy in the state.
However, 2024 also laid bare Arunachal’s grim reality of child trafficking. A significant breakthrough came in August when survivors courageously exposed a widespread trafficking racket. Nine individuals, including three government employees, were arrested for allegedly running the operation for years.
The Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) called for stringent measures, including the dismissal of those involved. Among the accused were health worker Chaya Dulom and her husband, water resources surveyor David Dulom, both accused of coercing minors into exploitation.
Another grim episode unfolded in Ziro, Lower Subansiri district, where an interstate trafficking ring was dismantled in August. Four victims, including two minors, were rescued.
Earlier in May, police uncovered a network trafficking five minor girls from Dhemaji, Assam, leading to 22 arrests.
Simultaneously, resistance to large-scale hydropower projects intensified. Indigenous communities vehemently opposed the proposed 12,500 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), fearing environmental degradation and displacement. On 5 October, hundreds gathered in Geku village to protest against NHPC’s survey activities.
Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum General Secretary Donggo Libang warned, “It will submerge paddy fields and strip locals of their land rights.”
Protests escalated as the Upper Siang administration issued notices to government employees and village heads participating in demonstrations.
In contrast, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs greenlit investments worth ₹3,689 crore for two projects in Shi Yomi district – the 186 MW Tato-I and 240 MW Heo projects.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, overseeing the power portfolio, announced plans for 11 hydropower projects between 2025 and 2027, claiming, “These projects will secure the state’s economic future by creating jobs and boosting power generation.”
The year also saw governance reforms aimed at streamlining administration. The state introduced 10 guardian ministers for its 28 districts, overseeing infrastructure and welfare programmes, and appointed 26 bureaucrats as mentor secretaries to ensure policy efficacy.
Restoring public trust, the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) successfully conducted the prelims of its combined competitive examination after a four-year gap marred by the 2020 question paper leak scandal.
The reformed process marked a step forward in rebuilding confidence in the system.
Arunachal Pradesh’s 2024 was a year of triumphs and turmoil, where political victories stood alongside the fight for justice and sustainable development.
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