Pema Khandu will take oath as the chief minister for the second time on Wednesday. Khandu became the CM for the first time in 2016 when Nabam Tuki relinquished the seat after the Supreme Court had reinstated his government. Khandu was elected as a Congress CM but then hopped over to the PPA, and then to the BJP. Khandu will lead the first elected BJP government in the state. With 41 members, the BJP has won absolute majority in the state assembly. This is the team that Khandu wanted. Now that he has managed to bring his own MLAs and ensure the defeat of his rivals, including those within the party, the people of the state will expect him to deliver.
In his two-and-a-half years’ tenure Khandu has shown his capability to deliver good governance. He often cited hurdles created by his rivals against his ability to perform to his fullest. As the people of state have bestowed absolute majority to his government, Khandu will have no reason or excuse now. He will have to deliver on the promises that were made to the people. Gone are the days when the people used to forget promises after the elections were over. In this age of social media everything is on record, and the citizens will keep reminding him about the promises. Today’s voters are educated, and restless. They want faster development and are not ready to wait forever for it. If Pema Khandu fails to deliver, he will have to face the wrath of the people.