NEW DELHI: Seven chief minister’s — Biju Patnaik in Orissa, Sunderlal Patwa in Madhya Pradesh, Chimanbhai Patel in Gujarat, Sharad Pawar in Maharashtra and Shanta Kumar in Himachal Pradesh took the oath of office Monday, installing Janata Dal in power in Orissa and the rightwing BJP in the other two states.
In Rajasthan, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, belonging to the BJP will be sworn in as the new chief minister. Shekhawat was on Saturday elected leader of the BJP legislature party. In the 199 strong houses, the BJP won 85 seats, the Janata Dal 54 and the Congress bagged 50.
While the Janata Dal is yet to decide on a leader to head its ministry in Bihar a report from Itanagar said Geong Apang of the Congress (I) who was elected leader of the party’s legislature wing in Arunachal Pradesh, Monday met the governor and staked his claim for formation of the new ministry in the northeastern state.
The Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan had been sworn in on Sunday, while D Ramachandran of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK) is to be sworn in as chief minister in Pondicherry ‘on March 8.
Biju Patnaik, who led the Janata Dal to a spectacular victory in the February 27 elections in Orissa, was sworn in as the 16th chief minister of the state by Governor Yagyadutt Sharma before a massive crowd amidst tumultuous scenes of jubilation.
Patnaik, who staged a comeback after a gap of over 27 years, was the chief minister of Orissa for over two years between 1961-62 before he stepped down from office under the Kamaraj plan, to take up organizational work of the then ruling congress party. It was his 75th birthday Monday.
The BJP legislature party leader in Madhya Pradesh, Sunderial Patwa, was sworn in as Chief Minister at a public function in the capital Bhopal by Governor KM Alikhan Monday.
Other ministers are to be inducted later.
In Himachal Pradesh, a seven member BJP ministry led by Shanta Kumar was sworn in.
Shanta Kumar along with his six ministers took the oath of office and secrecy at a function in the lawns of the governor’s residence in the state capital, Shimla.
Sharad Pawar has been sworn in Maharashtra for the third time.
The congress secured 142 seats in the 288 member house. The Janata Dal got 25, the BJP. 42 and Shiv Sena (regional party) 51.
Newly elected BJP legislators in Himachal are to elect Shanta Kumar as their leader.
The party has won 44 of the 65 seats in the state while Janata Dal managed to get 11 and the Congress only eight.
In Arunachal Pradesh the Congress I is eight short of securing two thirds majority in the 60 member assembly nine more results are yet to come.
In Bihar, the Janata Dal emerged as the largest single party capturing 112 seats and the parties supporting the Janata Dal led coalition in the center.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 9, 1990
