Dorjee Khandu sworn in as Arunachal Chief Minister
Itanagar:
Dorjee Khandu has been sworn in as the Chief Minister for another term
here on Sunday. Governor J.J. Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy
to 54-year-old Khandu in a glittering ceremony at the Durbar hall of the Raj Bhavan.
All the newly elected members of the assembly were present during the oath-taking
ceremony. Former Chief Minister Gegong Apang, Union Minister of State for Planning
V Narayansami, Congress working Committee (CWC) member Luizinho Falerio and All
India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Sanjay Bapna were also present on the
occasion. Khandu who hails from Tawang District, also had a brief stint in the
Indian Army. He was awarded commendation from the Army Chief for his meritorious
service in intelligence gathering during the Bangladesh War. A Monapa Budhist
leader, Khandu, made his debut to the state assembly in 1990 by getting elected
unopposed from Mukto constituency. In 1995 he became Minister of State for Co-operation
and was elevated to cabinet rank as minister of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary,
Dairy in 1996. He also handled ministries of power, relief, rehabilitation and
disaster management between 1998 and 2007. In 2007, Khandu replaced powerful Gegong
Apang as the Chief Minister of the state.
