Ranchi: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren, 37, was sworn in yesterday as the ninth chief minister of Jharkhand.
Hemant Soren was administered oath by Governor Syed Ahmad. Two legislators — Rajendra Prasad Singh of Congress and Annapurna Devi of RJD — also took oath as ministers.
The swearing in ceremony took place at Birsa Mandap of Raj Bhawan.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government of Arjun Munda was dethroned after JMM withdrew support on January 8. The present assembly period ends in December 2014 and this will be third government in the current assembly.
Hemant Soren has been given one week by the governor to seek trust a vote and he is likely to seek the vote on July 16.
According to JMM sources, Hemant Soren will expand the cabinet after seeking the trust vote. Before the swearing in ceremony, Hemant Soren took blessings of his father Shibu Soren and mother Rupi Soren. No central leaders of the Congress attended the swearing in ceremony.
This is first time that the Congress is becoming part of the government in the state. Congress had extended outside support to the Madhu Koda government in 2006 and Shibu Soren government in 2008.
Hemant Soren had staked claim to form the government on July 9. He had handed a letter of support of 43 legislators to the governor.
The 43 legislators who are supporting JMM to form the government comprise 18 from the JMM, 13 Congress, five RJD, seven legislators either belonging to smaller parties or independent legislators.
IANS
