Itanagar, Aug 03: United Democratic Front leader Gegong Apang was today sworn in as chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh along with a 35-member council of ministers, ending a week-long political crisis in the state. Kameng Dolo, leader of Congress (D), which is part of the newly formed UDF, was sworn in as the first deputy chief minister of the state.

Besides the chief minister and the deputy chief minister, 31 were sworn in as cabinet ministers and three as ministers of state by Governor V C Pande at a function at the Raj Bhavan here.

All 22 members of Mukut Mithi cabinet were included in the new ministry which had eight new faces-- six of cabinet rank and two ministers of state.

UDF spokesman Lijum Ronya, its secretary L Wanglat, besides T L Rajkumar and T Wangham were among those sworn in as cabinet ministers.
Wanglat, Rajkumar and Wangham are on bail following their arrest under the Arunachal Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act for alleged links with militant group NSCN(I-M).

Mekab Dolo, wife of the deputy chief minister, is the lone woman member and a new face in the ministry.

Apang told reporters after the ceremony that the portfolios would be allocated later.

Mithi, who was defeated by a voice vote in the assembly last night, did not attend the ceremony though some of his supporters turned up.
Speaker Tamiyo Taga, senior civil and police officials and leaders of other political parties attended the function.

Mithi's Congress government was reduced to a minority on July 27 after 31 party MLAs broke ranks and formed Congress (D).

Bureau Report