Itanagar: Nabam Tuki was sworn-in as the 7th chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh in a simple ceremony held at Darwar Hall in Raj Bhavan on Tuesday.
Governor Gen (Retd) J J Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new chief minister in presence of the three AICC observers, out going Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin, former Chief Minister Gegong Apang, party MLAs and other senior government officials.
The three AICC observers led by Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde arrived here yesterday to convey the verdict of AICC president Sonia Gandhi regarding the selection of new chief minister.
The AICC team comprised Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, AICC observer for Arunachal Pradesh Dr Dhaniram Shandil and former Union Minister and sitting MP B K Handique.
Ceremony over, Mr Tuki told newsmen the rule of law would prevail and ensure speedy development of the state while Mr Gamlin said he would work together for the development of the state and the CLP.
The state was passing through a leadership crisis ever since the appointment of Mr Gamlin as the chief minister on May 4 last following the death of former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu in a chopper crash at Luangthang near Tawang on April 30 last, due to strong opposition inside the CLP. The leadership problem persisted between Gamlin and Tuki.
From grassroot worker to Arunchal chief minister
Starting his political innings as a grassroot worker, Nabam Tuki on Tuesday reached the pinnacle of his political career as the seventh chief minister of the sensitive border state of Arunachal Pradesh.
Tuki was first elected to the second legislative assembly in 1995 from Sagalee constituency and served as the deputy agriculture minister in the Gegong Apang ministry. He also served as Transport and Civil Aviation minister in 1988. Earlier, he was the IFCD minister in 1996.
He was re-elected to the assembly in 1999 from the same constituency and became a cabinet minister with the Environment and Forest portfolio in the Mukut Mithi ministry. He was re-elected in the 2004 and 2009 assembly elections and served as the PWD and urban Development minister under the Apang and Khandu ministries.
Born on July 7, 1964 in remote Ompuli village in Sagalee sub-division under Papum Pare district, Tuki is a graduate and has seven children, including two sons. He also served as state NSUI President (1983 to 1986) and was Chairman, North East NSUI Coordination Committee (1984 to 1986).
He was General Secretary, All India NSUI (1986 to 1988) and Arunachal Pradesh Youth Congress President (1988 to 1995). Tuki also served as Vice Chairman, North Eastern Youth Congress Coordination Committee (1988 to 1993) and as Working President, North Eastern Youth Congress Coordination Committee from 1993 to 1995. An avid sports lover, Tuki is also the current president of the Arunachal Cricket Association. (PTI)