Dorjee Khandu (Congress)

Dorjee Khandu is the incumbent Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. He has been elected unopposed from Mukto assembly to the 60-member state legislature for the third time in a row.

Born on March 3 in 1955 at Gyangkhar village, Dorjee has studied only up to Class VIII in Bhoti language. He was sworn in as the fifth Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh on April, 2007, replacing Gegong Apang.

Khandu, who belongs to Monpa tribe, has four sons and two daughters. Prior to joining politics, he worked with the Indian Army Intelligence Corps for more than seven years. He also received a gold medal for the meritorious intelligence services rendered during the Bangladesh War.

In March, 1990, Khandu was elected unopposed to the first legislative assembly of the state from Thingbu-Mukto constituency. He was re-elected from the same constituency in1995 and became a cabinet minister for Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Dairy Development and also a Minister for Power.

He was elected third time in 1999 and served as Minister for Mines, Relief & Rehabilitation from 15 October 2002 to 27 July 2003, and also as Minister for Relief & Rehabilitation and Disaster Management.

Again in 2004, Khandu was re-elected unopposed from Mukto constituency and served as Minister for Power, NCER and Relief and Rehabilitation.

Gegong Apang (Congress)

Gegong Apang has the distinction of being the longest serving Chief Minister in any state after Jyoti Basu of West Bengal. He became the Arunachal CM from January 18, 1980 to January 19, 1999 and again from August 2003 to April 2007 when he was replaced by Dorjee Khandu.

After a period of 19 years, he resigned as Chief Minister in 1999, following a defeat in a no-confidence motion in the Arunachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.

In 2003, he was elected the leader of newly formed United Democratic Front, a coalition of his own political party, the Arunachal Congress and several other parties. Later, he formed an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, making Arunachal Pradesh the first BJP-ruled state in Northeast. He joined the Congress party in 2004 polls.

Apang, who was born on July 8, 1949, belongs to Adi community. He is contesting from Tuting Yingkiong constituency.

Kiren Rijiju (Congress)

Kiren Rijiju, a prominent leader who was projected by the BJP as its Chief Ministerial candidate, crossed over to Congress in August. He is competing from the Arunachal West constituency.

He represented the state as a member of the 14th Lok Sabha in Parliament and has the honour of being the national secretary of the BJP.

Nabam Tuki (Congress)

Nabam Tuki is the current head of the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee and is the Public Works Department Minister of the state.

Tuki, who represents Sagalee constituency, belongs to Nyishi community. He also has the distinction of being elected unopposed in the last assembly election in 2004.

Compiled by Salome Phelamei