Three cabinet ministers, five PSs, two advisors dropped

From Our Correspondent

Itagar, Jan 3: Aruchal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has dropped three ministers from his council of ministers along with his principal advisor and advisor. Governor V Shanmugathan on advice of the chief minister withdrew his pleasure from the ministers mely Animal Husbandary, Diary Development, Fisheries, sports and youth affairs minister Rajesh Tacho, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Tanga Byaling and PHE, Water Supply and Disaster Magement Minister Takam Pario on December 31 last, chief secretary Shakuntala Doley Gamlin informed in a notification issued on Monday. With the dropping of the three ministers, the portfolios attached to them would be held by the chief minister, the notification added. In another notification issued by the chief secretary, the governor discontinued the services of Kameng Dolo, Principal advisor to chief minister and Tapang Taloh, advisor to Khandu. The chief minister also dropped five parliamentary secretaries including Mutchu Mithi (PWD), Markio Tado (Food & Civil supplies), Tirong Aboh (Geology & Mining), Dikto Yekar (Art & Culture) and Nikh Kamin (Disaster Magement). All the ten MLAs of who are still with the Peoples’ Party of Aruchal (PPA), have opposed the leadership of Khandu and projected Pario as the next chief minister of the state. In a dramatic move, Khandu along with 32 PPA MLAs on December 31 last joined the BJP to install its government in the state.