ITANAGAR, June 2 � Two weeks after taking over the reigns for the second consecutive term on May 18, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on Sunday night inducted nine Cabinet Ministers, including a new face, in his Ministry. The Congress had won 42 seats, including 11 uncontested, in the April 9 Assembly polls.
The newly-inducted Ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by State Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma in a ceremony held at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan here.
Also present in the function were Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, Congress MP from Arunachal East parliamentary constituency Ninong Ering, Protem Speaker Kameng Dolo and Leader of Opposition Tamiyo Taga, besides the newly- elected MLAs and top-ranking government officials, among others.
The lone new face included in the Tuki Ministry is Takam Pario, two-time legislator from Palin Assembly constituency. Pario had won the 2014 elections uncontested.
The eight others are former Ministers Tanga Byaling from Nacho constituency, Chowna Mein (Lekang), Kalikho Pul (Hayuliang), Kamlung Mossang (Miao), Tapang Taloh (Pangin), Pema Khandu (Mukto), Gojen Gadi (Basar) and Kumar Waii (Bameng).
Later, Tuki told reporters that he will distribute portfolios to the Ministers by tomorrow.
Two other Ministers (to make it to 12, including CM himself) will be inducted in the second phase, divulged Tuki when enquired about his full team of Ministers.
Asked about party�s candidate for ensuing Rajya Sabha election, he said Congress high command will take a final call on it to fill the lone RS seat from the State that fell vacant on completion of the term of office by incumbent Mukut Mithi.
Meanwhile, a three-day sitting of the Arunachal Assembly commenced at Naharlagun on Monday.
The Protem Speaker Kameng Dolo administered the oath to the newly-elected members of the 60-member house. Chief Minister Nabam Tuki took the oath first followed by his 9-member Council of Ministers and then the other MLAs.
While all the members took oath in English, Itanagar MLA Techi Kacho, his Ziro-Hapoli counterpart Tage Taki and Mechukha legislator Pasang Dorjee Sona preferred to take oath in Hindi. The MLA from Chowkham, CT Mein could not make it due to ill health.
The ruling Congress had won 42 seats in the April 9 Assembly elections, including 11 un-opposed, followed by BJP (11), People�s Party of Arunachal five and Independents two. There are 19 new faces in thye Assembly.
Earlier, the members observed a two minutes� silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls of former Minister Newlai Tingkhatra and former legislator TG Rinpoche.
Incidentally, Tingkhatra had won this year�s Assembly election from Kanubari seat on a Congress ticket. But the election result was likely to be countermanded following his death.
