Pema Khandu has emerged as the new star on the northeastern horizon when he was elected leader of the Congress in Arunachal Pradesh in a dramatic turn of events.
Son of late Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, the 37-year-old graduate from Delhi’s Hindu College had an early entry into governance after his father’s demise in a chopper crash 2011.
Mr. Khandu, who hails from Tawang, bordering China, first entered the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly from Mukto (ST) constituency to fill the vacancy caused by his father’s death. And in five years, he has emerged as the chief ministerial prospect after Supreme Court’s intervention that changed the course of politics in the State with dissidents returning to Congress.
He was re-elected unopposed in 2014 elections. Mr. Khandu has served as Minister for Water Resource Development and Tourism.
He had joined the Congress in early 2000 and became Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee in 2005 and president of Tawang District Congress Committee in 2010.
