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Deshmukh, Bhujbal sworn in

Senior Congress leader Vilasrao Deshmukh was today sworn in as the twenty-first chief minister of Maharashtra by Governor Dr P C Alexander at an impressive function held at Raj Bhavan in Bombay.

Along with Deshmukh, state Nationalist Congress Party chief Chhagan Bhujbal was also sworn in as the deputy chief minister. Both of them were administered oath of office and secrecy in Marathi by the governor.

Deshmukh will head the Congress-NCP coalition government, which replaces the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party saffron alliance that ruled the state for nearly four years and eight months.

While Deshmukh, a veteran Congressman from the Marathwada region of the state and a former minister, replaces senior Sena leader Narayan Rane. Bhujbal, a former cabinet minister in the Sudhakarrao Naik and Sharad Pawar governments, replaces Gopinath Munde of the BJP.

The council of ministers is yet to be declared.

The governor has given the government 15 days' time to prove its majority on the floor of the house. The state legislative assembly is scheduled to meet on October 22.

UNI

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