JMM chief Shibu Soren was today sworn in as chief minister of Jharkhand for the third time at a ceremony which was skipped by top leaders of coalition partner BJP, and will take a floor test in the Assembly on January 7.
The Assembly is being convened on January 4. Soren will move a confidence motion on January 7 to demonstrate the strength of the five-party coalition in the 81-member Assembly. Ending almost a year-long spell of President's rule in the state, 65-year-old Soren and two ministers from coalition partners were sworn in by Governor K Sankaranarayanan at Morabadi ground.
BJP President Nitin Gadkari, who had received Soren in Mumbai and sealed the deal for formation of the JMM-led coalition government, was expected to attend but was conspicuous by his absence.
The BJP support to JMM had come under criticism from a section of the party. RSS ideologue M G Vaidya also questioned the decision to support Soren who is facing a number of criminal cases.
Besides Soren, who heads a five-party coalition, BJP Jharkhand unit chief Raghubar Das and All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) chief Sudesh Mahato were sworn in as ministers.
The Vigilance Bureau will be strengthened and made more effective to curb corruption, Cabinet Secretary Aditya Swaroop told reporters in the presence of the Chief Minister. Asked how he would deal with alleged illegal mining in the backdrop of the Koda scam, Soren said everything would be examined.
About induction of more ministers, a senior BJP leader said, "The ministry can be expanded after Guruji (Soren) takes the floor test."
Soren has secured the support of 44 MLAs--JMM 18, BJP 18, JDU-2 AJSU 5 and JJM 1--in the 81-member House after the assembly elections in Jharkhand gave a fractured verdict. Congress-JVMP combine has got 22 seats.
