Ranchi, July 13
Popular rule was today restored in Jharkhand with Hemant Soren being sworn in as Chief Minister of a coalition government led by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

The 37-year-old Soren, son of JMM chief Shibu Soren, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Syed Ahmed this morning after President Pranab Mukherjee revoked the nearly six-month-long central rule in the state.

Rajendra Prasad Singh and Annapurna Devi, Legislature Party leaders of the Congress and the RJD, respectively, which are part of the coalition, were also sworn in as ministers during the ceremony at the Birsa Mandap on Raj Bhavan premises.

Soren, who gave the Governor a list of 43 MLAs supporting him in the 82-member assembly, is expected to expand his ministry after taking the floor test.

Soren, who heads the ninth ministry in less than 13 years, became the fifth tribal CM since the state was created on November 15, 2000. JMM president Shibu Soren, who was present at the ceremony, and Hemant Soren have now got the distinction of being the first father-son duo to have ruled the state.