BJP leader Kiren Rijiju, who has again been included in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi ministry, took oath as a union minister for the second time.
The young and dynamic BJP MP from West Arunachal Lok Sabha constituency defeated his nearest rival, Congress’ Nabam Tuki by a margin of 1,74,843 votes.
Rijiju has served the first term of Modi government as the union minister of state for home affairs.
Also read: Rijiju all set to get his second ministerial berth
In the recently-concluded Lok Sabha polls, Rijiju received 63.02 per cent of votes while former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Tuki had polled only 14.22 per cent of votes.
Kiren Rijiju, who was born on November 19, 1971 at Nakhu near Nafra in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, was the face of BJP in the Northeast in Modi’s first government.
BJP supporters in Arunachal Pradesh earlier claimed that the BJP leadership had given clear indication that Rijiju would be inducted again in the ministry.
As the union minister of state for home affairs, Rijiju made a name for himself in the national political theatre for his oratory skills and smartness.
Rijiju, a graduate of Hansraj College, has travelled around the world, and is a visionary leader.
He also holds a Law degree from University of Delhi.
He was born to the politically progressive family of Rinchin Kharu and Chirai Rijiju.
He was also an active social worker since his school days.
As a member of the youth and cultural team, Rijiju, at the age of 16, participated in the Festival of India in USSR in 1987.
His father was the first pro-term speaker of Arunachal Pradesh, and had administered the oath of office and secrecy to the Members of the first State Legislative Assembly.
Rijiju became a member of Khadi and Village Industries Commission at the age of 29 in 2000.
At the age of 33, he was first elected to the 14th Lok Sabha in 2004.
As a first-time MP, he was ranked among the top 5 opposition MPs because of his active participations in debates and discussions.
Though he lost the election in 2009 by a margin of 1,300 votes, Rijiju was elected to the 16th Lok Sabha in 2014 from the Arunachal (West) constituency.
He was inducted by Modi, and was entrusted with the important portfolio of home affairs as a deputy of Rajnath Singh.
Rijiju’s strength is his wife, Joram Rina.
She is an alumnus of the Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi.
At present, she is working as an Assistant Professor teaching history at the Dera Natung College in Itanagar.