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Takam Pario all set to replace Pema Khandu as CM of Arunachal Pradesh

The new CM's name was finalised a day after PPA, on December 29, suspended Pema Khandu, Deputy CM Chowna Mein and other five MLAs for anti-party activities.

After the suspension of Pema Khandu from the post of Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, the People’s Party of Arunachal has made Takam Pario the new CM of the state.

The party will soon submit Pario’s name to the Governor V Shanmuganathan.

Takam Pario is known as the richest MLA in Arunachal Pradesh whose declared assets are worth Rs 187 crore. Pario is brother of former Congress MP Takam Sanjay who was defeated by Kiran Rijiju in the 2014 Lok Sabha election

The new CM’s name was finalised a day after PPA, on December 29, suspended Pema Khandu, Deputy CM Chowna Mein and other five MLAs for anti-party activities.

The MLAs include Jambey Tashi, C T Mein, P D Sona, Zignu Namchoom and Kamlung Mossang.

As per the order issued by PPA chief Kafia Bengia on Thursday, PPA has also categorically announced that Pema Khandu is no longer the Leader of the legislature party and cannot exercise any of the powers bestowed on him as the leader of the legislature party.

Bengia said,”We are not happy with leadership of Pema Khandu, he hasn’t been able to take party into confidence on policy decisions”.

PPA MLAs have also been warned by the party high commands not to attend any meetings called by Khandu, failing which disciplinary actions would be taken.

Khandu sworn in as Arunachal’s CM on July 17, under striking circumstances after Supreme Court suspended Kalikho Pul led PPA government and 30 dissident Congress MLAs including Pul returned to Congress.

Later, Pul had allegedly committed suicide under mysterious circumstances on August 9.

On September 16, 43 Congress MLAs including Khandu merged with the PPA and also joined the NEDA – a platform of anti-congress political parties in Northeast spearheaded by BJP.