Itanagar, Oct. 8: In the drama that is elections 2009, Gegong Apang resembles a tragic hero — a once-powerful king now fighting enemies who were once his friends and close allies.

For a man who ruled the state for 23 years and changed political colours from the Congress to the Arunachal Congress to the BJP and back to the Congress, Apang is an almost forgotten name in the state.

In the election office records, the veteran Congress leader is locked in a battle with the NCP’s Alo Libang and BJP’s Katan Komboh in Yingkiong Tuting constituency of Upper Siang district.

And the result of the October 13 election could very well decide whether Apang will remain in the political firmament or not.

There was a time when no one dared to contest against him.

But Apang himself has remained unfazed.

“Politics is a reflection of life. There are ups and downs but I am a fighter,” he said.

His rivals, Komboh and Libang, are not new to politics though.

A former radio artiste, Libang is said to be the popular choice. Though Libang lost the panchayat elections in 2008, he is expected to give a tough fight to the former chief minister in his backyard.

As for Komboh, he has been a district unit BJP president, who contested Apang during the 2004 elections. He has a core group and established network of workers who are ready to take the fight to Apang’s fort.

The Yingkion-Tuting constituency, tucked away 400km from Itanagar, lacks basic amenities.

“Our constituency is way behind despite the fact that former chief minister Gegong Apang represents the Assembly segment. Almost nothing has been done to develop road infrastructure, communication facilities and basic amenities,” a villager said.

For the over 10,000 electorate of the Assembly segment, it is an opportunity to make a turnaround this time by electing a leader who will take care of their needs.

For Apang, it is time to put his act together.

Apang had to bow out following dissidence by a group of his “own men” who had grown under his leadership. He probably could not have imagined that his cabinet colleagues would ever dethrone him.

But what probably went against him was his alleged involvement in a multi-crore rupee public distribution system scam which led to his downfall. The CBI chargesheeted him in the case in 2007.

The man who was dear to the Congress high command suddenly fell out of favour.

As dissidence grew, Apang was dislodged from the post of chief minister in April 2007.

But as he himself puts it: “I have seen all these in my career. I know where I stand. I am sure I will be back in the spotlight”.

Till such time, however, Apang will have to battle the demons of his past.