Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Gegong Apang, who served as the second longest serving Chief Minister in the country with a record 22 years, mostly with the party, has resigned and joined the BJP.

Mr. Apang, in a letter to Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee president on February 17, resigned from the primary and active membership of the party, party sources said.

He joined the BJP in New Delhi during the day in the presence of senior party leaders, Arunachal Pradesh BJP unit president Tai Tagak said here on Thursday.

Mr. Tagak said that the formal announcement would be made during the Vijay Sankalp Abhiyan Rally to be held at Pasight in East Siang district on February 22, which would be addressed by BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Mr. Apang is not new to the BJP as he had led a BJP-led coalition government in the State during 2003 for 42 days.