Arunachal Pradesh CM Oath Updates: Pema Khandu takes oath as chief minister

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislature party leader, Pema Khandu, took oath as chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the third consecutive term at a ceremony held in the state capital Itanagar.

The 44-year-old was administered oath of office and secrecy by Governor Lt Gen (Retd) KT Parnaik at a ceremony held at the Dorjee Khandu Convention Centre, named after the CM’s late father, who died in a helicopter crash in May 2011 while holding the same office

as his son—and incident which hurtled the younger Khandu to the political spotlight.

Chowna Mein, who was the deputy CM in the previous Khandu-led governments since 2016, took oath for the same post one more time. Ten other cabinet ministers were also sworn in by the Governor. They are PD Sona, Mama Natung, Dasanglu Pul, Kento Jini, GD Wangsu, Biyuram Wahge, Nyato Dukam, Wangki Lowang, Balo Raja and Ojing Tasing.

While Wahge is the BJP state unit chief, Pul is the wife of former chief minister Kalikho Pul. PD Sona was the Speaker in the previous assembly and Natung was the minister of youth affairs and sports in the previous cabinet.

The new cabinet ministers are PD Sona, Mama Natung, Dasanglu Pul, Kento Jini, GD Wangsu, Biyuram Wahge, Nyato Dukam, Wangki Lowang, Balo Raja and Ojing Tasing.

10 other cabinet ministers will take oath of office apart from Khandu and Mein

Chowna Mein takes oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Pema Khandu will take oath as the CM of the state for the third consecutive term on Thursday.

Preparations are underway for the swearing-in ceremony to be held at the DK State Convention Centre in Itanagar at around 11.00 am.

Tight security arrangements have been made for the event, which will be attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Ministers JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and others.

Ahead of the event, Assam Minister Ashok Singhal said there is great enthusiasm among the people as the BJP is forming the government once again in the state.

"People are very excited. There is enthusiasm among everyone in the state. Once again, the BJP is forming a government in Arunachal under the leadership of Pema Khandu. He will take oath at 11 am today. The Chief Ministers of Assam, Tripura, and Sikkim will be there. Our responsibility is increasing because people are trusting us more," Singhal said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda arrived in Itanagar to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Pema Khandu, to be held today.

Khandu was on Wednesday re-elected as leader of the BJP Legislature Party in Arunachal Pradesh, paving the way for him to be sworn in as the Chief Minister for the third term in a row. He will take the oath of office along with his cabinet on Thursday. He became CM for the first time in 2016.

BJP leader Pema Khandu was on Wednesday re-elected as leader of the BJP Legislature Party in Arunachal Pradesh, paving the way for him to be sworn in as Chief Minister for another term.

A meeting of the newly-elected BJP MLAs was held in the presence of Bharatiya Janata Party's central observers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Tarun Chugh and Pema Khandu was unanimously elected as the leader of the legislative party.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who is an MP from the state, was also present at the meeting.

Pema Khandu will become Chief Minister for the third term in a row and take the oath of office along with his cabinet on Thursday. He became Chief Minister for the first time in 2016.

Pema Khandu will take the oath of office along with his cabinet on Thursday at around 11 am

The National People's Party (NPP) will extend support to the Pema Khandu government in Arunachal Pradesh, a senior party leader said.

NPP Arunachal Pradesh unit president Thangwang Wangham said the party has accepted the people's mandate in the recently held state Assembly elections.

The NPP, led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, which is an ally of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), will extend support to the Khandu government, Wangham said.

"We accept the mandate given by the people," he said while assuring his party's commitment to keep the aspirations of the people alive in the state.

Wangham, who won the Longding-Pumao assembly seat, said the party has a clear vision for the state, region and the country.

BJP won 46 seats in the 60-member Arunachal Pradesh assembly in the elections held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha election. Though there are 60 members in the state assembly, polling took place only in 50 constituencies as 10 ruling BJP candidates, including Khandu, won their seats unopposed.

The BJP on Tuesday appointed former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and its national general secretary Tarun Chugh central observers for the meeting of its Arunachal Pradesh MLAs to elect the state's next chief minister.

Pema Khandu, MLA along with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Chowna Mein, MLA and Tapir Gao, MP (Lok Sabha), BJP party central observers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Trun Chugh, Arunachal Pradesh State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President, Biyuram Wahge, called on the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Lieutenant General KT Parnaik (retd.) at Raj Bhavan, Itanagar on Wednesday.

Pema Khandu briefed the Governor about the meeting held today of 46 elected members of the Arunachal Pradesh State Legislative Assembly from Bharatiya Janata Party in the recently concluded 8th Legislative Assembly election of Arunachal Pradesh.

He informed the Governor that the 46 members of the 8th Arunachal Pradesh State Legislative Assembly had unanimously elected him as their leader in the 8th Legislative Assembly of the State and staked his claim to form the government.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda arrived in Itanagar to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Pema Khandu, to be held today.

Khandu was on Wednesday re-elected as leader of the BJP Legislature Party in Arunachal Pradesh, paving the way for him to be sworn in as the Chief Minister for the third term in a row. He will take the oath of office along with his cabinet on Thursday. He became CM for the first time in 2016.

Meanwhile, the official 'X' handle of the Union Home Minister also posted, "Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah received by Chief Minister-designate of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu along with other leaders and karyakartas at Itanagar Airport today. The UHM will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Arunachal Pradesh government tomorrow."

BJP leader Pema Khandu expressed gratitude for being unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP Legislature Party in Arunachal Pradesh and called for collective efforts to accelerate Arunachal Pradesh's growth and achieve the goal of an inclusive, Viksit Bharat by 2047.

"I am grateful to our fellow BJP MLAs for placing their faith in me. I also put on record my sincere thanks to our MPs, party leaders, and workers for working day in and day out in ensuring resounding win the polls. Now, let's work together harder to further speed up the pace of all-round growth in Arunachal Pradesh and realize the goal of inclusive Viksit Bharat by 2047," Khandu added in a post on X.

He also added that he accepts the responsibility of leading the BJP to another term of development-oriented governance in sync with the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Feeling so honoured to be elected unanimously as the Legislature Party leader of @BJP4Arunachal. With utmost humility, I accept the responsibility of leading the BJP to another term of development-oriented governance in sync with the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji," Khandu said in a post on X.

Pema Khandu, who will be the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the third term in a row, has emerged as a prominent leader in the northeastern state, especially following a constitutional crisis in 2016 that resulted in the imposition of president's rule.

Known for his enthusiasm for sports and music, Khandu is recognized for his strategic acumen which played a crucial role in bringing the BJP to power for the first time in the northeastern state bordering China in 2016.

His political journey commenced amidst personal tragedy, with the untimely demise of his father, former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, in a helicopter crash in 2011. Khandu's political ascent gained momentum when he won a by-election uncontested from his father's constituency Mukto.

Pema Khandu will become the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the third term in a row, after he was unanimously elected as the BJP Legislature Party Leader at a meeting here on Wednesday, senior leader Tarun Chugh said.

Chugh and Ravi Sankar Prasad attended the meeting as BJP's central observers. Union minister Kiren Rijiju, who hails from the northeastern state, was also present there.

Later in the evening, Khandu accompanied by Chugh and several legislators called Governor Lt Gen (Retd) K T Parnaik at Raj Bhawan here and staked claim to form the government.