Pema Khandu takes oath as Aruchal CM

Our Correspondent

Itagar, July 17: Congress legislator Pema Khandu was on Sunday sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Aruchal Pradesh, becoming the youngest lawmaker to head a State in the country.

Chow Mein was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister.

Son of late Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, 37-year-old Pema and Mein were administered the oath by Governor Tathagata Roy at the Raj Bhavan here.

Hours ahead of the scheduled floor test in the Assembly yesterday which Chief Minister bam Tuki was directed by the Governor to take, the Congress Legislature Party elected Pema Khandu, in place of Tuki, who was restored to the Chief Minister's post earlier this week after the Supreme Court verdict.

Pema then staked claim to power on the basis of the support of 45 party MLAs along with two Independents.

In a volte-face, ousted chief minister Kalikho Pul, also returned to the party fold with 30 dissident MLAs.

In the 60-member House with an effective strength of 58, Congress now claims the support of 47 MLAs, including two Independents.

Later addressing a Press conference, Khandu said that his main agenda is to develop the 'Team Aruchal' spirit among elected leaders, irrespective of party affiliations, for overall development of the frontier state.

 "All the elected leaders of the state will be a part of the development process cutting across political barriers and will work as the 'Team Aruchal' for bringing positive development," he told reporters here, during a press conference after swearing in as the ninth chief minister of the State.

He said his priority would be to complete all those important projects started by his father Late Dorjee Khandu, bam Tuki and Kalikho Pul.

Khandu, the youngest chief minister of the country who has won from Mukto Assembly Constituency in Tawang district bordering Chi two times unopposed, further revealed that he would also make special effort to stop migration of people from border areas by providing all requirements with the help of the Centre under BADP schemes.

In reply to a question on the 2000 MW Lower Subanisiri Hydro Electric Project (LSHEP) at Gerukamukh, work on which was stopped since last several years following protests from anti-dam protagonists in neighbouring Assam, Khandu emphatically said that he would discuss the issue with the Assam government as well as the Centre for a solution.

He, however, added that in all hydro-power projects, the affected people should be taken into confidence by both the executing agencies as well as the State government.