Congress legislator Pema Khandu was yesterday sworn in as the new chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, becoming the youngest lawmaker to head a state in the country.
The 37-year-old Khandu, son of former chief minister Dorjee Khandu, was administered the oaths of office and secrecy by acting governor Tathagata Roy at a ceremony in the Durbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan here.
Legislator Chowna Mein also took oath as deputy chief minister.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Khandu said age is never going to be an issue in his governance and he will run the state administration very well if he has the support of all his legislators.
Former chief minister Khaliko Pul said: “I wish all the best to Pema Khandu... we’ll co-operate with him for the development of Arunachal Pradesh.”
Present at the ceremony were former chief minister Nabam Tuki and speaker of the state legislative assembly Nabam Rebia, besides senior Congress leaders.
Tuki resigned from his post to make way for Pema Khandu in a bid to get the support of rebel legislators who had defected from the Congress to unseat Tuki.
Earlier, Tuki resigned as Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, and proposed the name of Khandu as the next CLP leader.
The proposal was supported by all the 44 legislators, including 15 Congress and 29 dissident Congress legislators who had joined the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) in February.
The 44 legislators also include Pul, who unseated Tuki and became the chief minister in February.
Khandu, who graduated from Hindu College of Delhi University, started his career in the construction business and played a vital role in assisting his father in his developmental initiatives for the state.
The tragic death of his father, in a helicopter crash in 2011, compelled Pema Khandu to enter politics to keep the political lineage of his family alive. He won from his father’s constituency - Mukto - uncontested.