Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Dorjee Khandu were today sworn in as chief ministers of Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh, respectively, for a second straight term.
Hooda, 62, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Jagannath Pahadia at a simple function at the Raj Bhawan. The Congress leader has been asked to prove within a week his majority on the floor of the Assembly, a day after the Congress leadership opted for status quo on the chief ministership in the backdrop of a decline in the party’s strength in the Assembly. No other minister was sworn-in along with Hooda who is expected to constitute his Council of Ministers shortly.
The Congress emerged as the single largest party bagging 40 seats in the 90-member House, but cobbled a majority after securing “unconditional” support of seven Independents to cross the half-way mark.
