 "Hat-trick for Pema Khandu: Meet India’s youngest CM, who steered BJP to a big victory in Arunachal Pradesh")
In Arunachal Pradesh, the saffron flag flies high.
On Thursday (13 June), 44-year-old Pema Khandu of the BJP has taken oath as chief minister of the northeastern state for the third consecutive term after winning 46 seats in the 60 member Assembly in the recently held election.
Arunachal Pradesh governor KT Parnaik administered the oath to Khandu at a ceremony in Itanagar. Home Minister Amit Shah along with other ministers such as JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju, and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were in attendance for the event.
Let’s take a closer look at Khandu and how he has helped the BJP win in the northeastern state.
Khandu’s personal life
Khandu, a Buddhist by faith, belongs to the Monpa tribe, primarily living in Tawang , a district which shares a border with China. He’s a graduate from Delhi University’s Hindu College and is known to be keen on sports, including football, cricket, badminton and volleyball. In fact, he’s made strong efforts to promote sports since joining politics.
He also likes to travel, especially with an eye on promoting social and cultural events. He’s also believed to be a music enthusiast and has been captured on camera singing to his audience popular songs of Kishore Kumar and Mohammad Rafi.
People within the BJP describe him as soft-spoken and articulate, with an ability to connect with the youth of the state.
Khandu’s political journey
Khandu’s journey into politics began amidst personal tragedy when his father, former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, passed away in a helicopter crash in 2011. Khandu, who had joined the Congress a year before, then won a by-election from his father’s constituency of Mukto. It was from here that he began to carve out his political path, rising to the top.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn 2014, Khandu won uncontested from Mukto, and became minister for water resource development and tourism. He held various Cabinet positions and was even appointed urban development minister in the Nabam Tuki government. However, in October of that year, he quit as minister, and sided with dissident leader Kalikho Pul.
Following the 2016 crisis when President’s Rule was imposed, Khandu became a minister Kalikho Pul-led government, supported by the BJP. However, this rule was short-lived when the Supreme Court termed the Governor’s decision unconstitutional and restored Tuki’s rule as chief minister. However, Tuki resigned a few hours before proving majority on the floor of the House and at 37, Khandu became the youngest ever chief minister in India in July 2016.
Two months later, in September, Khandu quit the Congress along with 43 Congress MLAs and joined the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA). And in December again, he once again made the shift to the BJP.
In 2019, Pema Khandu won from Mukto Assembly seat for the second time and became the chief minister without any political hindrance. And this time around too, he has won his seat.
Believed to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, it is expected that he will be given another run at governing the state.
Sunday’s big win and Khandu’s rising star
Following the BJP’s big win in Arunachal on Sunday — it won 46 of the 60 seats — Khandu said: “This is a historic mandate for us as we have got the highest number of seats.”
When asked about the difference between his stint in the BJP and Congress, he was quoted as telling Indian Express: “The Congress in those days dominated the Northeast. Unfortunately, its leaders in Delhi made the entire system corrupt. Not a single project got sanctioned without bribes. I was the one who revolted against the Congress. I resigned from the party much before I joined the BJP. Once I joined the BJP, I realised there is a zameen aasman ka farq (vast difference).”
Many credit Khandu for the development projects that have been undertaken in the state. In fact, in his time as CM, around 1,700 km of highway has been completed and the state now has an airport too.
Sunday’s win at the polls has not only cemented the BJP’s position in the state but also Khandu’s, noted many political observers. One BJP leader told the Deccan Herald, “This is also a victory for Khandu’s leadership. People reposed faith in the way Khandu led the party taking all on board.”
He added that in a state where defection is a big concern, Khandu has been able to arrest that problem within the party. “Under his leadership, no important leader quit the party. In fact, many leaders from Congress and National People’s Party (NPP) made a beeline to join BJP ahead of the polls. This led to Congress’ failure to put up candidates in all 60 seats.”
With inputs from agencies
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