David Arore

David Arore is a Papua New Guinean politician.

He was first elected to the National Parliament in the 2007 general election, as MP for the Ijivitari Open constituency in Oro Province. Elected as an independent, he then joined the National Alliance Party and was appointed deputy Minister for Education by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare. When a cyclone and floods hit Oro, he was reportedly "on the ground with the people", "carrying a bag of rice, making tea for people". A petitioner having challenged the legitimacy of his election, filing claims against the Electoral Commission, the Court of Disputed Returns in 2008 suspended Arore from Parliament, pending a recount of the ballots, but he ultimately retained his seat.^[1][2][3]

In July 2010, he and five other party members defected briefly to the Opposition, in a failed attempt to bring down the government. Within a few days, they pledged their support for the government once more, and were accepted back.^[4]

At the start of August 2011, he was again among several government MPs to join the Opposition. This time, a successful parliamentary motion of no confidence brought down the government of Acting Prime Minister Sam Abal (standing in for Somare while the latter was hospitalised for a serious heart condition), and Peter O'Neill became Prime Minister.^[5] O'Neill appointed Arore as his Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology.^[3][6]

In January 2012, he joined Don Polye's new Triumph Heritage Empowerment Rural Party.^[7]

On 19 March 2013, Arore stepped down from the government, upon being charged with bribery and graft, in connection with alleged acts during the 2012 general election. He denied the charges, but stepped down until his name could be cleared, in accordance with guidelines set down by Prime Minister O'Neill. Don Polye temporarily took over his portfolio.^[8]

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