Shibu Soren sworn in as Jharkhand Chief Minister

Ranchi, August 27 : Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand here today. This is his second stint in the State CM office in the past three years.

Governor Syed Sibtey Razi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Soren and 11 of his cabinet colleagues at Morabadi ground here.

The Ministers who took oath included Stephen Marandi (Independent), Sudhir Mahto (JMM), Kamlesh Kumar Singh (Nationalist Congress Party-NCP), Anosh Ekka (Ind.), Hari Narayan Rai (Ind.), Joba Majhi (Ind.), Nalin Soren (JMM), Bandhu Tirkey (Ind.), Aparna Sengupta (Forward Bloc), Dulal Bhuiya (JMM), Bhanu Pratap Sahi (Ind.).

Earlier on August 25, Soren staked claim to form the government after submitting a list of 42-MLAs before the State Governor. He individually met all the Independent MLAs who were supporting Koda.

Finally the independents gave support to Soren in exchange of their 12-point demand.

He will have to prove majority on the floor of the State Assembly on September 1, as per a directive from the Raj Bhawan.

Soren's path to the post was cleared last evening when Governor Razi invited him to form the next government in the state.

Earlier, last week Soren had withdrawn support from the Madhu Koda-led United Progressive alliance (UPA) government in Jharkhand, thereby reducing the government to a minority.

In 2005, after being sworn in as the state CM, he had to resign, as he couldn't prove his majority in the House. His stint lasted nine days.

Koda had submitted his resignation to Governor on Saturday, after which Razi asked him to continue till an alternative arrangement was made.

ANI