Arunachal Pradesh has slipped out of the Congress party’s hands once again, just two months after the Supreme Court stepped in to restore its government. Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday staged a dramatic exodus of Congress lawmakers and joined a BJP ally, leaving only one member with the ruling party.

After the switchover, the turbulent northeastern state now goes to a BJP ally.

Mr Khandu has taken 42 Congress lawmakers and joined the regional People’s Party of Arunachal, which is an ally of the BJP. The one lawmaker who has stayed with the Congress is, ironically, Nabam Tuki, who was replaced as chief minister when the Congress tried to stem rebellion in its ranks and picked Mr Khandu as a compromise.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said: “The prodigal sons of Congress who have jumped ship have made massive ideological and political blunder and compromise.”

In an assembly of 60 members, the Congress had 44 lawmakers and 11 members are from the BJP. Two independent lawmakers who supported the Congress have also joined the People’s Party.