Soren becomes 6th CM of J'khand; Floor test on Aug 29

Ranchi, Aug 27 (UNI) JMM chief Shibu Soren, who was today sworn in as the sixth Chief Minister of Jharkhand along with 11 other Ministers, his second chance to be elevated to the post after a wait of nearly three and a half years, would go in for trial of strength on August 29.

Immediately after the swearing in, the new Chief Minister rushed to Project Bhavan to hold a Cabinet meeting.

After the meeting, Mr Soren said he would prove his majority on August 29 at the special session of the state Assembly.

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

The Ministers, who took oath, were Stephen Marandi (Ind), Sudhir Mahto (JMM), Kamlesh Kumar Singh (NCP), Anosh Ekka (Ind), Hari Narayan Rai (Ind), Joba Majhi (Ind), Nalin Soren (JMM), Bandhu Tirkey (Ind), Aparna Sengupta (FB), Dulal Bhuiya (JMM), Bhanu Pratap Sahi (Ind).

Ten of them were in the erstwhile Madhu Koda-led UPA government except for the Forward Bloc Legislator, who became Minister for the first time.

Today's development ended days of political drama, which began with the withdrawal of support by the JMM to the Koda government on August 17 that finally forced the Chief Minister to resign on August 23.

On August 25, Mr Soren staked claim to form the government after submitting a list of 42 MLAs before the Governor after luring all the Independent MLAs, who had been standing united with Mr Koda.

Significantly, the Independents shifted allegiance to Mr Soren in exchange of their 12-point demand.

During his first stint as Chief Minister that lasted only for nine days, Guruji (Soren) had to step down as he failed to obtain majority on March 11, 2005.

Mr Soren yesterday furnished a list of 42 MLAs in the House of 82, including a seat left vacant following the assassination of Ramesh Singh Munda (JD-U) last month.

Mr Soren's 42-member list comprised JMM (17), Congress (nine), RJD (seven), United Goan Democratic Party (two), Jharkhand Party (one), Nationalist Congress Party (one), Forward Bloc (one) and four independent MLAs --- Madhu Koda, Stephen Marandi, Harinarai Rai and Bhanu Pratap Sahi.

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