Digvijay sworn in MP CM

BHOPAL, Dec 1 (UNI, PTI) — Mr Digvijay Singh was today sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for the second consecutive term.

The Governor, Dr Bhai Mahavir, administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Singh at Raj Bhavan here Mr Singh took the oath alone.

Senior Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee, Arjun Singh and Madhav Rao Scindia, AICC General Secretary Tariq Anwar, AICC Secretary Ramesh Chennithala, state Congress President Mrs Urmila Singh, former Chief Ministers Shyama Charan Shukla, Motilal Vora, former union ministers V.C. Shukla and Kamal Nath were present.

An engineer-turned politician, 51-year-old Mr Digvijay Singh is the 25th Chief Minister to lead the country’s largest state after the Congress retained power winning 173 seats in the 320 member Vidhan Sabha.

Earlier in the day, the newly elected Congress Legislature Party (CLP) met and unanimously adopted a resolution, authorising Congress President Mrs Sonia Gandhi to select its leader. The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Digvijay Singh and seconded by former Chief Minister Shyama Charan Shukla.

AICC observer and senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee later spoke to Mrs Gandhi, who gave her nod for the re-election of Mr Singh for a second consecutive term.

Later, a formal letter on behalf of the CLP was sent to Governor Dr Bhai Mahavir requesting him to invite the newly elected leader to form a government.

Mr Singh is leaving for Delhi to hold consultations with the party high command about the constitution of his Council of Ministers.

Briefing reporters after the CLP meeting, senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee said nobody offered him candidature and each and every legislator was in agreement with the resolution, authorising Mrs Sonia Gandhi to select the new leader.

"We spoke to Mrs Gandhi and she indicated her choice", he added.

Mr Mukherjee said the fact that Mr Digvijay Singh enjoyed full confidence of the high command has been proved by his selection as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party for a second tenure.

Replying to a question, he said the Chief Minister would be given a free hand in constituting his Council of Ministers.

MUMBAI: The Republican Party of India (Athavale group) has demanded a Cabinet berth in the Digvijay Singh ministry.

The demand follows the victory of RPI’s state unit President Domansingh Nagpure from the Khairlanji constituency in Balaghat district.

RPI leader Ramdas Athavale said in a statement that his party had entered into an alliance with the Congress in MP during the just-concluded assembly elections and according to an understanding between the two parties, The Congress had promised to accommodate the RPI in the ministry if it won in the polls.

Gehlot sworn in CM, to expand ministry soon

JAIPUR, Dec 1 — Rajasthan Congress president Ashok Gehlot, who led the party to its best-ever poll performance in the state, was today sworn in as the Chief Minister marking return of the Congress to power after eight years of BJP rule.

The 47-year-old Lok Sabha member, Mr Gehlot, the youngest and 15th Chief Minister of Rajasthan, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by state Governor N L Tiberewal, at a special ceremony at Raj Bhavan here.

Mr Gehlot later told newsmen that he would form his council of ministers in a day or two after consultations with the party high command in Delhi and that it would be broad-based representing all sections of the people.

He said his administration would try to be transparent and responsive to the needs of the people.

A strident critic of the BJP, Mr Gehlot was given the reins of the pradesh Congress for the second time in December 1994 and had the satisfaction of bringing a complete turnaround in its fortunes to win three-fourths majority in the 200-member House with elections for three seats yet to be held.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by a galaxy of leaders including the outgoing Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, AICC general secretaries Madhavrao Scindia and Ghulam Nabi Azad, party observers Mohsina Kidwai and R L Bhatia, CWC member Rajesh Pilot and former Union Minister Balram Jakhar besides senior civil and police officials.

Son of a magician and social worker Gehlot, who represents Jodhpur Lok Sabha seat, was elected to Parliament five times and was a Deputy Minister in the Indira Gandhi Ministry in 1982 and the Rajiv Gandhi Ministry in 1984 and a Minister of State with Independent charge of Textile in the Narasimha Rao government in 1991.

Later, Mr Gehlot drove to the secretariat and formally assumed office as Chief Minister.

At the secretariat, he was accorded a warm reception by the senior administrators including Chief Secretary Arun Kumar and senior police officials.

For the soft-spoken and suave Gehlot the chief ministership comes as a reward for painstaking efforts to revive the fortunes of the Congress banished from power for long years.

Born in an OBC family on May 3, 1951 in Jodhpur, Gehlot, son of magician Lakshman Singh Gehlot, is no stranger to administration.

A law graduate, he served as Deputy Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation in the Indira Gandhi government in 1982.

Mr Gehlot also did stint as Home Minister in the Shiv Charan Mathur Cabinet for a few months before the 1990 Assembly elections.

Former Chief Ministers Shiv Charan Mathur and Mr Jagannath Pahadia and leader of the opposition in the outgoing Assembly Paras Ram Maderna were also present. Also in attendance were slogan-shouting jubilant Congress party cadres.

Mr Gehlot will expand his ministry soon. The installation of the Congress ministry marked the end of the eight year long regime of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat-led BJP government.

Addressing newspersons after assuming office at the state secretariat here, Mr Gehlot said in his first review meeting with top state government officials he had directed the officials to prepare a white paper on the economic health of the state. The officials had also been directed to take effective and appropriate action against hoarders and black-marketeers to contain prices.

The Chief Minister reiterated his resolve to keep up the promises made by the Congress and to give top priority to various problems faced by people, including shortage of drinking water and power supply.

Mr Gehlot said during the eight-year-long BJP Government’s regime in the state, development process was hampered and the state had faced reverses. Mr Gehlot said that his government would review the prevailing power situation and would take all possible efforts to increase the power generation capacity. His government would also ensure delegation of powers to panchayati raj institutions and civic bodies and the officials were asked to prepare a status report and set modalities to implement his government’s resolve in this regard, Mr Gehlot said.

Corruption would not be tolerated at any level and bureaucracy would be made sensitive and responsive to public needs and problems. Responsibilities of government officials would also be fixed.

Whatever Mr Gehlot may say the fact is that Cabinet formation may not be a smooth affair for him. Stalwarts like Mr Nawal Kishore Sharma, Mr Shiv Charan Mathur and Mr Parasram Maderna have already declined Mr Gehlot’s offer to join his Cabinet. Former CM Shiv Charan Mathur while talking to this correspondent confirmed that he was invited to join Mr Gehlot Cabinet. Mr Mathur, who himself was a contender for the post told Mr Gehlot that once having remained at the helm of the affairs of the entire state it would not be appropriate for him to get limited to one or two departments.