Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: A crucial meeting of the Union Cabinet to discuss the developments arising out of Arunachal Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu’s tragic death in helicopter crash is underway in the national capital.
The meeting is being attended by central ministers – V Narayanaswamy, Mukul Wasnik, and Bijoy Krishna Handique.
Two senior All India Congress Committee leaders would also be in attendance where the issue of electing a new leader for the Arunachal unit of the Congress party will also come up.
During the meeting, the congress top brass would discuss the selection of a new Chief Minister with at least six senior leaders in the race for the vacant post.
They are -- Urban Development Minister and President Arunachal Pradesh Congress Nabam Tuki, Power Minister and former MP Jarbom Gamlin, Home Minister Tako Dabi, Finance Minister Setong Sena, former chief minister Mukut Mithi and Lok Sabha MP Takam Sanjay.
"The Congress high command is aware of the situation, but this is not the time to discuss such things as our priority is to get the bodies and perform the last rites," said Bijoy Krishna Handique, central minister for Development of Northeastern Region (DONER).
Chances of Nabam Tuki emerging as the unanimous choice is not ruled out as he is one of the senior Congress leaders and also the president of the state Congress party.
Some of the legislators have also sent their views to the central leadership about their choice and preference. It is likely the new chief minister would be chosen and sworn soon.
There are also chances of a caretaker chief minister being sworn till a final selection of a permanent chief minister by the Congress high-command.
Earlier yesterday, the wreckage of the helicopter carrying the chief minister was located by local villagers Wednesday near Lobotang, 30 km north of the 13,700 feet Sela Pass, in Tawang district. All the five bodies were mutilated and almost charred beyond recognition.
The B3 single-engine and four-seater copter went missing with Khandu, his security officer Yeshi Chodak, Yeshi Lhamu, sister of Tawang MLA Tsewang Dhondup and two pilots after taking off from Tawang helipad and crashed in bad
weather in the mountains.
With Agency Inputs
