Pema Khandu was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the third consecutive term on Thursday, amidst the distinguished presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Kiren Rijiju, and other notable dignitaries. The swearing-in ceremony, which took place at the DK State Convention Centre in Itanagar, also saw the induction of Khandu’s new council of ministers.
Khandu’s re-election as the leader of the BJP legislature party in Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday paved the way for his formal appointment as the Chief Minister. Following this development, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lieutenant General KT Parnaik (retd) extended the invitation to Khandu to form the government.
Notably, Khandu’s political journey traces back to his initial affiliation with the Congress party. He assumed the role of Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh in 2016. However, shortly thereafter, he, along with the majority of Congress MLAs, transitioned to the Peoples’ Party of Arunachal and established a new government. Nonetheless, in December 2016, the PPA expelled Khandu, leading him to join the BJP. He subsequently took oath as Chief Minister for the second time under the BJP banner on May 29, 2019, following the party’s victory in the assembly polls where they secured 41 out of the total 60 seats.
In the recently concluded Andhra Pradesh assembly election, the BJP clinched a remarkable victory, securing 46 out of the 60 seats, with an additional 10 seats won unopposed prior to the polls.
