CM expands ministry with two Dy CMs, five ministers

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS

Itagar, March 5: Creating another political history in this land-locked state, Aruchal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul today expanded his 15-day-old ministry by inducting two deputy chief ministers along with five cabinet ministers.

Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa administered oath and secrecy of office to the newly inducted ministers in an impressive function organised at the Darbar Hall of the Raj Bhawan in presence of high level police and civil officials, BJP and PPA MLAs including two Independent members supporting the Pul government.

Rajya Sabha MP from the state Mukut Mithi, former Chief Minister Gegong Apang and PPA CWC Chairman Kamen Ringu were among others who attended the function.

However, all the 15 Congress MLAs were not present in the swearing in ceremony.

The two deputy chief ministers include Kameng Dolo and Chow Mein.

Dolo, earlier had also served as the deputy chief minister in the Gegong Apang government during 2004 while Chow Mein was the Agriculture and Horticulture Minister in the bam Tuki government before being dropped last year. The newly inducted cabinet ministers include Kumar Waii, Lombo Tayeng, Kamlung Mossang, Wangling Lowangdong and new comer T Norbu Thongdok.

While Waii was the RWD minister in the previous government, Tayeng was the former Tourism minister in the council of ministers led by Gegong Apang.

Mossang was the IFCD minister in the last government along with Lowangdong who, served as the Social Welfare, Women and Child Development minister.

Thongdok was the present Deputy Speaker of the state assembly who resigned from the post yesterday.

Pul who sworn in as the eight chief minister of the state on February 19 last after months of political turmoil, joined the Peoples’ Party of Aruchal (PPA)  along with 29 dissident Congress legislators on March 3 last.

Later talking to reporters Pul disclosed that the portfolios of the newly inducted minister would be announced tomorrow, while expansion of his ministry to fill up the posts of four other Cabinet ministers would be done soon.

When asked the reason for inducting two chief ministers, first in the political history of the country, the chief minister disclosed that he did it to honour them being the senior most MLAs of the state but not on political compulsion.

He added that his government would work for the betterment of the state and its people prioritizing six critical essential service sectors including, roads, health, education, power, water supply and law & order.