Chouhan takes oath as MLA

Bhopal, May 12 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today took oath as a member of the assembly.

He was administered the oath by Speaker Ishwardas Rohani in the latter's chamber.

Mr Chouhan, who took over as Chief Minister on November 29 last year, was elected to the Assembly in the May 3 byelection from Budhni with a record margin of more than 36,000 votes in a 16-cornered contest. Mr Rajendra Singh (BJP) resigned the Budhni seat to pave the way for Mr Chouhan's entry to the Assembly.

A five-term MP from Vidisha since 1991, Mr Chouhan resigned the Lok Sabha seat on Wednesday.

In the 230-member Vidhan Sabha, only one seat is vacant at present as former Chief Minister Uma Bharti, who represented Malehra, quit her membership on 'moral grounds' after floating 'Bharatiya Janshakti' on April 30. After her expulsion from the BJP last year, she was an unattached member in the Assembly.

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