Ranchi, December 29: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren was on Sunday sworn in as the 11th Chief Minister of the state. The oath-taking ceremony turned into an Opposition show of strength, with leaders cutting across several anti-BJP parties attending the swearing-in ceremony. The 44-year-old was administered the oath to office by Governor Draupadi Murmu. Along with Soren, RJD's Satyanand Bhogta and Congress' Rameshwar Oraon also took oath as Ministers. Jharkhand: FIR Lodged Against CM Raghubar Das Over ‘Objectionable’ Remarks on CM Designate Hemant Soren’s Caste.

Among Opposition leaders who were present at the oath-taking ceremony included former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and their Madhya Pradesh counterpart Kamal Nath. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, CPI general secretary D Raja and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha leader Babulal Marandi, among others.

From the BJP, outgoing Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das attended the oath-taking ceremony. He was spotted sitting besides Congress' state in-charge RPN Singh.

Update by ANI

Invitation was also issued to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, NCP president Sharad Pawar and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan to attend the oath-taking ceremony. However, they were not able to join the Opposition show of strength citing schedule restraints.

In the assembly elections held in Jharkhand between November 30 to December 20, a massive anti-incumbency sentiment was resonated by the voters. The government led by Raghubar Das was decisively voted out, whereas, the coalition of JMM, Congress and RJD was voted to power with 47 constituencies. Soren, who had earlier served as the Chief Minister for 13 months between 2013 to 2014, was projected as the CM candidate ahead of the polls.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 29, 2019 02:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).