Gogoi sworn in as 18th Chief Minister of Asom

Guwahati, May 14: Mr Tarun Gogoi was today sworn in as the 18th Chief Minister of Asom.

In a simple ceremony, Mr Gogoi was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Lt Gen Ajai Singh at Raj Bhawan.

He was the only one to take the oath.

Later, he informed the media that the list of ministers would be finalised soon and expansion could take place once the new government proves its majority.

The Congress has 53 members and its alliance partner BPPF(H) have 11, while seven Independents have also extended support taking the final tally to 71, well past the magic figure of 63 in 126-member Asom Assembly.

All the top civil and police officials attended the official ceremony in the Durbar Hall. This will be Mr Gogoi's second term as the Chief Minister, a feat none had achieved in the past 40 years in Asom politics. The last Chief Minister to have the honour of having two successive terms was Bimala Prasad Chaliha, the third Chief Minister of the state.

Mr Gogai told mediapersons that his immediate priority was to carry forward the initiatives he had taken for development and peace.

''My focus will be to restore peace and develop infrastructure,'' he said, adding the immediate task before him would be the successful hosting of the National Games in winter and kicking off the much delayed Gas Cracker project, which received approval of the Union cabinet recently.

The Chief Minister informed that he would be leaving for New Delhi tomorrow and in finalise the list of the new Ministers in consultation with the party High Command. The alliance partner BPPF (H) had demanded five posts in the Ministry.

''The expansion of the Ministry would be likely after the trial of strength,'' Mr Gogoi said.

The trial of strength is a mere formality as the Congress and its allies have 71 members in the 126-member assembly. The AUDF and NCP have also extended their support to the new dispensation.

Mr Gogoi was elected unanimously the leader of the Congress Legislature party yesterday.

UNI