Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh:

Pema Khandu, a sports enthusiast and music aficionado, has emerged as a tall leader in Arunachal Pradesh over the years, especially after a constitutional crisis in 2016 that led to the imposition of president’s rule.

Pema Khandu was also regarded as a strategist who, through political manoeuvring, brought the BJP to power for the first time in the northeastern state bordering China.

The BJP on Sunday returned to power in Arunachal Pradesh for the third time in a row, as the party won 46 seats in the 60-member assembly.

Pema Khandu’s political odyssey began amid a personal tragedy. The untimely demise of his father, former chief minister Dorjee Khandu, in a helicopter crash in 2011, thrust him under the spotlight.

Although he had joined the Congress in 2000 and held various positions, it was not until he won a by-election uncontested from his father’s constituency Mukto, that he truly began to carve out his political path.

Pema Khandu’s rise was swift. Serving initially as the tourism minister in Nabam Tuki’s Congress government, his leadership trajectory soared following a constitutional crisis in January 2016 that led to the imposition of president’s rule.

When the central rule was lifted, he became a minister in the Kalikho Pul-led government, supported by the BJP. However, this government was short-lived. The Supreme Court’s intervention restored Nabam Tuki, who soon resigned, and at just 37, Pema Khandu became the chief minister in July 2016.

Since then, Pema Khandu and his government have twice changed their party affiliation in quick succession – from the Congress to the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) in September 2016 and then to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in December of the same year.

Just three months into his term, 43 ruling Congress MLAs defected to the PPA, an ally of the BJP.

Although internal discord led to his suspension from the PPA, Pema Khandu demonstrated resilience and adaptability by joining the BJP along with most PPA MLAs, securing his position and proving his majority on the floor of the house.

In 2019, Pema Khandu won from Mukto assembly seat for the second time and became the chief minister without any political hindrance.

Beyond politics, Pema Khandu is known for his cultural contributions. An ardent music lover, he captivates audiences with renditions of Kishore Kumar and Mohammad Rafi classics at official gatherings.

His commitment to preserving cultural heritage is evident in his efforts to promote traditional songs through talent shows in Tawang and West Kameng districts.

Sports, another of Pema Khandu’s passions, sees him actively organizing cricket tournaments and supporting local athletes, nurturing talent across various disciplines including football, cricket, badminton, and volleyball.

A history graduate from Delhi’s Hindu College, Pema Khandu is a member of the Monpa tribe, which predominantly inhabits Tawang and parts of West Kameng.

In the run-up to the assembly polls held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections on April 19, he campaigned on a plank of corruption-free governance, emphasizing transparency and people-centric policies.

A Buddhist by faith, 45-year-old Pema Khandu has been re-elected unopposed from the Mukto seat in the border district of Tawang this time as well. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Itanagar:

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and four other BJP candidates are set to get elected as MLAs unopposed as no other candidate has filed nomination from their assembly seats on the last day of filing papers on Wednesday.

Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh will be held along with Lok Sabha polls. Voting for the 60-member assembly and two Lok Sabha constituencies — Arunachal West and Arunachal East — will be held on April 19.

Fifteen candidates will also try their luck for the two Lok Sabha seats in the northeastern state. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on Thursday and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 30.

The counting of votes for the Assembly polls will take place on June 2, while the Lok Sabha election results will be declared on June 4.

“Single nomination paper has been filed in five assembly constituencies. We hope that a few more (seats) will be added by the last day of withdrawal,” Mr Khandu told PTI over the phone.

This will be Mr Khandu’s fourth tenure as MLA in which he won three times uncontested. He is contesting from the Mukto constituency in Tawang district.

Four other candidates who are set to win uncontested include Jikke Tako from Tali, Nyato Dukom from Taliha, Ratu Techi from Sagalee, and Mutchu Mithi from Roing as the Congress nominees and other candidates withdrew their candidatures on Wednesday.

The BJP has fielded candidates in all the 60 Assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh while the opposition Congress nominated 34, and the National People’s Party has 29 candidates. The NCP and the Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) have nominated 17 and two candidates respectively for the assembly polls.

In the 2019 Assembly polls, the BJP won 41 seats. Later, seven MLAs from other parties joined the BJP. The BJP had also won both Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 elections.

The BJP formed its first elected government in Arunachal Pradesh in 2019, even though Chief Minister Khandu had formed a BJP government in 2016 after he, along with several MLAs, left the Congress and formed the People’s Party of Arunachal which joined hands with the BJP.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said Arunachal Pradesh leads in showing the mood of the nation.

“On the last day of the nomination filing for the Assembly election, BJP has secured 5 candidates elected unopposed led by CM @PemaKhanduBJP ji from 3-Mukto Assembly Constituency. 15. Sagalee Assembly Constituency: Shri Ratu Techi 20. Tali Assembly Constituency: Shri Jikke Tako 23. Taliha Assembly Constituency: Shri Nyato Dukom 43. Roing Assembly Constituency: Shri Mutchu Mithi,” he wrote on ‘X’.

Mr Rijiju said tremendous development in the state due to the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has generated so much support and blessings from the people.

An official said, “A total of 197 candidates have filed papers for the 60 assembly constituencies. Five BJP nominees, including Chief Minister Pema Khandu, may be elected unopposed as no other candidates filed nominations from their seat.”

After scrutiny of nomination papers on Thursday, the fate of the five BJP candidates would be clear, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Liken Koyu said.

Speaking on the parliamentary elections, he said eight candidates filed nominations for the Arunachal West Lok Sabha constituency. Union Earth Science Minister Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee President Nabam Tuki are among those who submitted papers from the seat.

Arunachal East Lok Sabha constituency has seven nominations. The BJP has fielded sitting MP Tapir Gao, while the Congress has nominated Bosiram Siram from the eastern parliamentary seat.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)