Takam Pario to become new Arunachal Pradesh CM: Richest MLA to replace Pema Khandu

In an apparently sudden development, Takam Pario is all set to take over as the next chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh. The move comes after the Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) on early Friday suspended Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and five other party MLAs from the primary membership of the party, temporarily with immediate effect, for alleged anti-party activities, reported India Today TV. The report added that a party meeting will be convened at 2 pm on Friday to make the decision official. So, who is Takaram Pario? Here is an all you need to know about the next chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh. [caption id=“attachment_3180614” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Takam Pario. Image courtesy: Arunachal Pradesh Department of Public Relations[/caption] Won 2014 poll on a Congress ticket The 41-year-old Takam Pario was elected from the Palin Assembly seat in the 2014 elections. He belongs to  Sangram (Dokio Langpo) village in Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh. Pario deserted Congress to join PPA Elected on a Congress ticket, Pario later deserted Congress along with 42 other MLAs, and joined the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA). The PPA is part of the NDA-led North East Democratic Alliance. Ministerial experience In the outgoing Pema Khandu government, Pario had been the PHED (Public Health Engineering Department) minister. Pario held the same portfolio when Nabam Tuki was the chief minister. However, Pario is reported to have fallen out of favour when the late Kalikho Pul became the chief minister earlier this year. Pul was found hanging from the bathroom of the chief minister’s bungalow in August after the Supreme Court unseated him and reinstated his rival Nabam Tuki as the chief minister. Richest Arunachal MLA During the 2014 state assembly elections, Pario declared assets worth Rs 187 crores. Pario was the richest candidate in the fray during the polls. With inputs from PTI