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Will try to complete father’s unfinished work: Arunachal CM Pema Khandu
Newly-crowned Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu said on Sunday that he would try to complete the unfinished work of his father, former chief minister Dorjee Khandu who died in a helicopter crash in April 2011.
Newly-crowned Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu said on Sunday that he would try to complete the unfinished work of his father, former chief minister Dorjee Khandu who died in a helicopter crash in April 2011.
The work includes 153 big and small hydropower projects, of which many are controversial. Dorjee Khandu ushered in the hydropower era after becoming CM in 2007, attracting developers who paid upfront money to his government.
“My father tried his best to develop Arunachal. Many projects initiated during his tenure and later are pending. As a son of a CM, the people expect a lot from me and so my priority will be to implement these projects,” Khandu said at the Chief Minister’s Office after his swearing-in at Raj Bhavan.
Tripura governor Tathagata Roy, standing in for the indisposed JP Rajkhowa, administered the oath of office and secrecy to Khandu on Sunday.
Chowna Mein, who was a key player in the rebellion against Tuki, was also sworn in as deputy chief minister. He held the same post in Kalikho Pul’s rebel Congress government too.
Seeking the support and guidance from predecessors Tuki and Pul, Khandu said he would build a Team Arunachal – cutting across political parties – to prepare a roadmap for the state’s development. “The two factions of Congress having reunited, I am optimistic about providing a stable government,” Khandu said.
On the exodus of people from villages on the India-China border, Khandu said his government would initiate schemes like the centre’s Border Area Development Programme to stop the migration.
The chief minister also said he has sought time from the governor for expansion of his cabinet and that he was ready for a floor test. The governor left for Tripura soon after the swearing-in.
Chowna Mein’s cricket analogy
Deputy chief minister Chowna Mein dismissed speculations that seniors like him would find it difficult to work with a young CM like Pema Khandu. He used cricket to convey that capability, not age, mattered.
“Parthiv Patel was only 16 when he was chosen as India’s wicket-keeper. That was because he was mature beyond his age and was good to be in the Indian cricket team,” Mein said.
