Pema Khandu Age, Caste, Wife, Family, Biography

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Wife: Tsering Dolma

Age: 45 Years

Caste: Monpa Tribe

Bio/Wiki
Profession	Politician
Known for	Becoming the youngest Chief Minister (Arunachal Pradesh) of India at the age of 37 in July 2016
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	5' 10" (177 cm)
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Black
Politics
Political Party	• Indian National Congress (INC) (2000- September 2016) • People's Party of Arunachal (16 September 2016- 21 December 2016) • Bharatiya Janata Party (21 December 2016- Present)
Political Journey	• Joined the Indian National Congress (2000) • Appointed as the Secretary of the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (2005) • Appointed as the President of the Tawang District Congress Committee (2010) • Appointed as the Cabinet Minister for Water Resource Development and Tourism in the Jarbom Gamlin government (2011) • Won the bye-election to his father's constituency Mukto uncontested as an Indian National Congress candidate (2011) • Became Cabinet Minister for Rural Work and Tourism in the Nabam Tuki government and also held the portfolios of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Art, and Culture (2011) • Re-elected unopposed from Mukto in the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election (2014) • Elected Congress Legislature Party Leader (2016) • Took oath as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh (2016) • Quit the Indian National Congress and switched to the People's Party of Arunachal along with 43 MLAs of the INC (September 2016) • Again took oath as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh (September 2016) • Suspended from the People's Party of Arunachal along with 6 other MLAs (December 2016) • Joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and proved majority with 33 MLAs of the People's Party of Arunachal (December 2016) • Again took oath as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, becoming the second Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh of Bharatiya Janata Party (December 2016) • Contested and won the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections as a candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (2019) • Took oath as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for his second term (May 2019) • Won the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections unopposed (2024) • Took oath as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the third time (2024)
Personal Life
Date of Birth	21 August 1979 (Tuesday)
Age (as of 2024)	45 Years
Birthplace	Gyangkhar Village, Kitpi Tehsil, Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh
Zodiac sign	Leo
Signature
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India
School(s)	• Government Secondary School in Bomba, Tawang (1995) • Donyi-Polo Vidya Bhawan, Itanagar (1997)
College/University	Hindu College, Delhi University (2000)
Educational Qualification	Bachelor of Arts with History Honours
Religion	Buddhism
Caste	Monpa (Scheduled Tribe)
Food Habit	Non-vegetarian
Address	Vill: Gyangkhar. P.O- Lemberdung, P.S and district-Tawang, (AP.) Wireless station-Tawang (APP)
Hobby	Listening to music
Controversies	Accused of Corruption In 2017, former Arunachal Pradesh CM Kalikho Pul in a note before committing suicide accused Pema Khandu of corruption. ^[1]India.com In his letter, he wrote, "During my chief ministerial tenure I ensured regular funds for every district under SIDF, RE and NP [non-Plan]. In spite of this, Pema Khandu and his two brothers sought an emergency fund of Rs 6 crore for hydro project maintenance, which was given to them. These funds had not even been touched when they sought more funds in the name of flood relief. They asked for another Rs 10 crore. Rs 10 crore was the sum marked for flood relief in the entire state but even then I gave the largest amount of Rs 6 crore for Tawang.” Accused of Raping a Minor In 2019, a 26 year old girl filed a plea before the Supreme Court of India alleging that Pema Khandu and 3 others had raped her in July 2008 in the border district of Tawang when she was a minor. According to her, a man named Phurma Lama lured her to the Circuit House in Tawang on a fake promise of providing her a government job. At the circuit House, she was offered soft drinks laced with sedatives after which she fell unconscious. When she regained her consciousness, she found herself unclothed. She was then threatened by Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu to not to reveal anything to anyone. ^[2]The Print Accused of Being Involved in a Multi-Crore Scam In 2021, the All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) accused Pema Khandu and his relatives of being involved in a multi-crore scam. ANYA also claimed that Khandu misused CM funds allotted to various departments and that he committed scams under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), panchayat and hydropower schemes. ^[3]India Today Accused of Violation of Several Laws In July 2021, a police complaint was filed against Pema Khandu and Kiren Rijiju at Kimin police station in the Papumpare district by the leaders of four political parties for violating the Arunachal Pradesh Statehood Act of 1987, Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873 (Restricted Area Permit) and Arunachal Pradesh (Land Settlement & Record) Act of 2000 while committing fraudulent contempt of Article 3 of Constitution. ^[4]NDTV
Social Media	• Instagram • Facebook • Twitter • LinkedIn
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Married
Family
Wife/Spouse	Tsering Dolma (Businesswoman)
Children	Son(s)- 2 Tsering Khandu Daughter(s)- 2
Parents	Father- Dorjee Khandu (Politician; died in a helicopter crash in 2011) Note: His father had 4 wives. His father's second wife's name is Rinchin Drema.
Siblings	Brother(s)- 4 Tashi Tsering Khandu (politician; died on 15 October 2020) Sister(s)- 2
Style Quotient
Car/Vehicle Collection	• Ford Endeavour (make 2010) • Ford Endeavour (make 2006) • Toyota Fortuner • Toyota Innova High Cross • Tata Truck
Money Factor
Assets/Properties (as of 2024)	Movable Assets • Cash: Rs. 25,00,000 • Bank Deposits: Rs. 1,10,33,97,550 • Bonds, Debentures and Shares: Rs. 1,31,30,311 • Insurance Policies: Rs. 9,29,000 • Motor Vehicles: Rs. 1,18,02,731 • Jewellery: Rs. 1,26,36,000 Immovable Assets • Agricultural Land: Rs. 4,30,00,000 • Non Agricultural Land: Rs. 15,33,44,092 • Commercial Buildings: Rs. 1,43,32,22,740 • Residential Buildings: Rs. 8,14,00,000
Net Worth (as of 2024)	Rs. 2,75,27,10,707

Some Lesser Known Facts About Pema Khandu

Growing up, Pema actively played sports like Football, Cricket, Badminton and Volleyball. Pema still loves to play these sports.

Pema Khandu’s educational background led him to pursue a career in politics.

In 1998, he began assisting his father Dorjee Khandu, former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, in his political journey.

Although he began his political career in 2000 by joining the Indian National Congress, Pema did not contest any elections until his father’s untimely demise in a helicopter crash in 2011.

While he was serving as the tourism minister in Nabam Tuki’s Congress government, a constitutional crisis in January 2016, led to the imposition of President’s rule in Arunachal Pradesh. After the President’s rule was lifted, Pema became a cabinet minister in the Kalikho Pul government.

Soon, the Supreme Court restored Nabam Tuki as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, who resigned from the post shortly after. Later, Pema Khandu took the oath as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh in July 2016, becoming the youngest chief minister in India.
Pema Khandu taking oath as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh

During his tenure as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu launched various special campaigns like Sarkar Aapke Dwaar, Hamara Arunachal Abhiyan, and Chief Minister Arogya Arunachal Yojana.

He has also worked on improving the Department of Horticulture, the education sector, the Eri silk industry, and the infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh.
Pema Khandu during a meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party

In 2019, Khandu was appointed as the President of the Arunachal Pradesh Football Association.

An ardent music lover, Khandu often entertains the audience at official social gatherings with renditions of Kishore Kumar and Mohammad Rafi‘s classics.

He has also served as the Chairman of the Bodhi Language and Literature Promotional Society.

Khandu also initiated the popular Mission Krishi Veer initiative to supply fruits and vegetables to the Indian Army and paramilitary soldiers stationed in Arunachal Pradesh.

Pema Khandu loves travelling in his leisure time.

To promote unity and cooperation between the military and the general public in the state, Khandu often organises sports at village, block, and district levels in Arunachal Pradesh.
Pema Khandu during his visit to border areas in Arunachal Pradesh

Khandu has launched various initiatives for the conservation of the environment like a widespread plantation drive in Tawang district. He has also worked to improve community health by organising various periodic medical camps.

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