BJP leader Pema Khandu took oath as the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the third time in a row on Thursday, June 13. Khandu was elected unopposed from the Mukto constituency in the border district of Tawang. This is Khandu’s third term in a row as Chief Minister.
NEW DELHI: BJP leader Pema Khandu took oath as the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the third time in a row on Thursday, June 13. Khandu was elected unopposed from the Mukto constituency in the border district of Tawang. This is Khandu’s third term in a row as Chief Minister.
44-year-old Khandu used to be a member of the Congress party. He became Chief Minister for the first time in 2016 when he replaced Nabam Tuki. Later that same year, 43 MLAs led by him switched from the Congress to BJP ally, People’s Party of Arunachal. This has led to the suspension of Mr Khandu by PPA leadership. The Chief Minister then proved his majority in the Assembly after 33 PPA lawmakers joined the BJP. In the Assembly elections of 2019 and this year also, he led the BJP to big wins.
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Chowna Mein, who held the same post during the last BJP term, took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister following CM Khandu’s swearing-in by Governor K.T. Parnaik.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang were also present at the swearing-in ceremony.
Eleven members were also sworn in as Ministers at the function held in the Dorjee Khandu State Convention Centre. The Arunachal Pradesh cabinet includes former Assembly Speaker P.D. Sona, BJP State President Biyuram Wahge, and Dasanglu Pul, the widow of former CM Kalikho Pul. With Pul assuming a position in the cabinet, Arunachal Pradesh has its first woman minister in decades.
The new Cabinet has eight fresh faces, including Palin MLA Balo Raja, Kanubari’s Gabriel Denwang Wangsu, Panging legislator Ojing Tashing, Kento Jini of Aalo East, and Nyato Dukam, who won the Taliha seat unopposed.
The BJP won Arunachal Pradesh for the third time in a row. It secured 46 seats, including ten unopposed, in the 60-member Assembly elections held alongside the Lok Sabha elections 2024. BJP won two constituency seats in Lok Sabha elections as well.