Dorjee Khandu sworn in as Arunachal chief minister

ITANAGAR: Dorjee Khandu, who led the Congress to a two-third majority in the Arunachal Pradesh assembly elections, was today sworn in as the fifth chief minister of the border state.

Governor Gen (retd) J J Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy to 54-year-old Khandu, who returns as chief minister for a consecutive second term, in a glittering ceremony at the Durbar hall of the Raj Bhavan.

All the newly-elected MLAs were present at the oath-taking ceremony.

Former chief minister Gegong Apang, whom Khandu dislodged from power in 2007, were present along with AICC observer V Narayansami, CWC member Luizinho Falerio and AICC secretary Sanjay Bapna.

Khandu, a former army intelligence officer rewarded for his exploits during the Bangladesh war, had turned a social activist before joining politics in 1980.

He was elected unopposed to the Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh in March 1990 from Mukto constituency. Khandu was re-elected in March 1995 from the same constituency and was given the portfolio of minister of state for cooperation.

In 2007, he replaced powerful Apang as the chief minister who had ruled the tribal state for 23 years.