Dorjee Khandu, who was born on March 19, 1955, is a state politics veteran. He was an Indian politician who served as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. He was re-elected in the 2009 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections. A military intelligence man who participated in the 1971 Bangladesh war, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu had worked his way up as a local politician helping set up schools and organizing drinking water supplies in far-flung areas of our State. In his late 50’s who became the chief minister twice, he was with the Indian Army’s intelligence wing for seven years. He also received a gold medal for rendering meritorious services during the Indo-Pak war that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
Popularly known as People’s Chief Minister, a large chunk of modern infrastructure is a product of his policies viz-a-viz. Trans-Arunachal Highway, Greenfield airport, Railway lines, New State civil secretariat, New Assembly Building, etc.
Dorjee Khandu was conferred the Karamveer Award by Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society in 2013 in his recognition. In March 1995, he was re-elected to the Second Legislative Assembly of the State of Arunachal Pradesh from the same constituency. He became the Minister of State for Cooperation from 21 March 1995.
Becoming an Anchal Samiti member in 1980, he turned his focus to social work in far-flung villages. He helped to arrange drinking water supplies, electricity and communication and also setting up schools in remote areas of Tawang, his home district. This helped him consolidate his standing among the masses when he replaced Gegong Apang as Chief Minister of the state in 2007.
He also served as the Minister for Mines and held the portfolio of Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation and Disaster Management.
His popularity grew further when he forced the central government to open the FIC regional head office here and godowns deep inside the state to check the pilferage of PDS commodities.
