Itanagar, Jun 21: The BJP has decided to contest the July 14 by-election to Mukto assembly constituency of Arunachal Pradesh, which had gone vacant due to the death of former chief minister Dorjee Khandu in a helicopter crash in April.

Stating that the BJP was pained by the sudden demise of Khandu, party's spokesman Tai Tagak in a statement today said its decision to contest the by-poll was in no way meant to demean the contributions made by the former chief minister.

"The Tawang district BJP committee, in the larger interest of the people and keeping up the healthy democratic spirit and practices of electoral politics, has decided to place a candidate to contest in the by-election," Tagak added.

The ruling Congress has decided to field Khandu's eldest son Pema as the candidate. Pema was inducted in the new chief minister Jarbom Gamlin's council as Tourism and Water Resources Development minister on May 20.

Dorjee Khandu was elected for six consecutive terms from the constituency.

By-Poll to the seat was necessitated following the death of former chief minister Dorjee Khandu who was killed in a chopper crash on April 30 at Luguthang, near Tawang along with four others on board.

The last date for filing nominations is June 27. 

PTI