Itangar, The Congress Legislator Party (CLP) on Saturday unanimously elected incumbent Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu as its leader paving way for him to take over the reins of Arunachal Pradesh for a second time. According to Congress sources, all 42 legislators unanimously voted for Khandu.

Union Minister of State for Planning V Narayanswami and senior party leader Luizinho Faleiro were present at the CLP as the Central observers.

Speaking to reporters, Narayanswami said the CLP decision to elect Khandu as their leader will be conveyed to party president Sonia Gandhi, and once a formal nod is given, he will take oath as Chief Minister.

The Congress won 42 seats in the 60-member legislature, eight more than it had in the 2004 assembly elections. Khandu, a Monapa Buddhist leader hailing from Tawang District first became Chief Minister in April 2007. He replaced Gegong Apang.

-Arun Acharya