Itanagar: Pema Khandu has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the third consecutive term following a resounding victory in the assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 46 out of 60 seats, cementing its dominance in the state’s political landscape.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the DK State Convention Centre in Itanagar, attended by prominent BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Alongside Khandu, senior party leader Chowna Mein took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister. A total of 13 ministers, including the CM and Deputy CM, were sworn in during the event.
In a historic moment, Dasanglu Pul was inducted as a minister in the Arunachal Pradesh government, becoming the first woman to hold a cabinet position in the state after a gap of 20 years. The ceremony, held at the Dorjee Khandu Convention Hall, saw the presence of Union Ministers Amit Shah, BJP national president and union minister J.P. Nadda, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and union minister Kiren Rijiju, along with the Chief Ministers of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang.
Pul, 46, represents the Hayuliang assembly constituency in Anjaw district. She first entered the political arena in 2016 following a by-election after the demise of her husband, former Chief Minister Kalikho Pul. She has been re-elected twice, in 2019 and 2024, marking her as a prominent female leader in the state.
Before her cabinet induction, Pul served as an adviser to the Women and Child Development department. Her appointment as a minister is seen as a significant step towards enhancing the representation of women in Arunachal Pradesh’s decision-making bodies.
Arunachal Pradesh now boasts four women MLAs, with Tsering Lhamu (Lumla), Chakat Aboh (Khonsa West), and Nyabi Jini Dirchi (Basar) joining Pul in the state legislature. This increased representation underscores a progressive shift towards gender inclusivity in the state’s political framework.
The reappointment of Pema Khandu as Chief Minister and the inclusion of Dasanglu Pul in the cabinet signify a new chapter in Arunachal Pradesh’s governance, promising stability and progressive leadership for the state’s future.
