The five National People’s Party (NPP) MLAs on Thursday formally extended support to the Pema Khandu-led BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh, leaving the 60-member Assembly with a lone Opposition MLA in Kumar Waii of the Congress.

Thanking the NPP MLAs for their "invaluable support" to the BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh, chief minister Pema Khandu said in a post on X that the letter of support, signed by five NPP MLAs, signified a “strong and united commitment to the development and prosperity of our state”.

The post further said: “My heartfelt gratitude to Shri Thangwang Wangham Ji, Shri Pesi Jilen Ji, and Shri Tapi Darang Ji for personally handing over the letter. I also extend my sincere thanks to Shri Namgey Tsering Ji and Shri Oni Panyang Ji for their unwavering support. Together, we will continue to work tirelessly for the betterment of Arunachal Pradesh and its people.”

Wangham is the NPP state president.

The development took the number of MLAs with the government to 59 in a House of 60. The ruling BJP had won 46 seats, NPP 5, NCP (Ajit Pawar) 3, People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) 2, Congress 1 and Independents 3 in the April 19 Assembly polls held simultaneously with the two Lok Sabha seats from the state.

The Khandu government had started off with the support of the three Independent MLAs — Laisam Simai, Wanglam Sawin and Tenzin Nima Glow — on Monday. The next day, the two PPA MLAs — Nabam Vivek and Oken Tayeng — extended support to the Khandu government.

On Wednesday, the three NCP (Pawar) MLAs — Nikh Kamin, Likha Soni and Toko Tatung — gave unconditional support to the BJP government.

The NPP capped the process by extending their support on Thursday, leaving the Congress’s Waii in the Opposition bench.