Tarun Gogoi sworn in as Assam CM

Update at 1720 hrs: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who was sworn in today for his second consecutive term, said peace would be his priority.

"Our new government will strive to bring permanent peace in the state and the task is challenging," Gogoi told reporters at the Raj Bhavan soon after he was sworn in by Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Singh.

He said his task in the second term would be more challenging than the first, and he would leave no stone unturned to ensure that permanent peace returned.

He also claimed that the law and order situation was under control, and the process to bring ULFA to the negotiating table was on.

"Our government has for, the last five years, performed well but there is lot's to do and get the state back to the national mainstream," Gogoi said.

Updated at 1410 hrs: Tarun Gogoi was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Assam for the second successive term at the Raj Bhavan here.

Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy to Gogoi at a simple function at the Raj Bhavan.

Gogoi, 70, is heading a coalition government led by the Congress and supported by the Hagrama faction of the Bodoland People's Progressive Front, NCP and independents.

According to plans, Gogoi would fly immediately to New Delhi after the swearing-in ceremony to discuss the formation of his council of ministers with Congress president Sonia Gandhi. He is expected to return to the state on Monday after which the new cabinet would take oath.

The Congress failed to get a majority in the 126-member state assembly winning only 53 seats in the elections held last month for which results were announced on Thursday.

It found support from the Bodo People's Progressive Front (BPPF) - previously the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) that has won 11 seats.

The move will give the Congress, which heads the national coalition in New Delhi, a wafer-thin majority of 64 seats. The party had won 71 seats in the 2001 elections.

Gogoi had taken over as Assam CM on May 17, 2001, and was elected to the assembly in September 2001. He was also a union minister on two occasions between 1991-93 and 1993-95.