Top BJP leaders skip Soren's oath-taking ceremony

Ranchi, Dec 30 (PTI) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief
Shibu Soren was Wednesday sworn in as chief minister of
India's eastern state of Jharkhand for the third time at
a ceremony which was skipped by top leaders of Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP), the key coalition partner.

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. Rashtriya Seva Sangh (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.
Soren has been directed by the governor to prove his
majority on the floor of the Assembly by January eight.
Asked 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 Members of Legislative
Assembly (MLAs)--JMM 18, BJP 18, Janata Dal-United (JD-U)-2
AJSU 5 and Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch (JJM) 1--in the
81-member House after the assembly elections in Jharkhand gave
a fractured verdict.
Congress-JVMP combine has got 22 seats. (MORE) PTI PVR
ANU


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