Show of Opposition unity as Hemant Soren takes oath as Jharkhand chief minister; Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi congratulate JMM leader

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren took oath as the state's chief minister on Sunday at a grand ceremony attended by a galaxy of Opposition leaders. This is the second time that Soren has become the chief minister of the state.

The 44-year-old tribal leader was sworn in as the 11th chief minister of the state by Governor Droupadi Murmu. Among those in attendance were Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, her Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh counterparts Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, DMK leader MK Stalin, his sister Kanimozhi, and Rashtriya Janata Dal's Tejashwi Yadav.

Jharkhand: Rahul Gandhi, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel & DMK President MK Stalin at the oath-taking ceremony of Jharkhand CM designate Hemant Soren, in Ranchi. pic.twitter.com/PAebDpNypK

— ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2019

Former Assembly speaker and Congress leader Alamgir Alam, Jharkhand PCC president Rameshwar Oraon and RJD MLA Satyanand Bhokta were the other three ministers who took oath after Soren.Earlier, Soren was deputy chief minister from 2010 to early 2013, and the chief minister from July 2013 to December 2014.Alam and Oraon are first-time ministers, while Bhokta had been the agriculture minister in the BJP-led NDA governments between 2000 and 2005, before joining the RJD.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate Soren and assured all help for Jharkhand's development.

Congratulations to @HemantSorenJMM Ji on taking oath as Jharkhand CM. I assure all possible support from the Centre for Jharkhand’s growth.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 29, 2019

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who attended the swearing-in ceremony at Ranchi's Mohrabadi Ground, expressed confidence in the newly-elected coalition government.

I attended the swearing in ceremony of CM Hemant Soren Ji & ministers from the Congress party in Ranchi today. I'm confident that the new Govt in Jharkhand will work for the benefit of all citizens & usher in an era of peace & prosperity in the state. pic.twitter.com/nIg1svJ0uL

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 29, 2019

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also congratulated Soren.

@HemantSorenJMM जी, आपको ढेर सारी शुभकामनाएँ https://t.co/AE4BfTwLOF

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 29, 2019

Janata Dal (Secular) national president HD Deve Gowda congratulated Soren and expressed confidence that he would ensure efficient governance in the state.

Heartiest congratulations to @HemantSorenJMM on swearing-in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. I'm sure you would ensure a pro-people administration and efficient governance. All the best!

I'm unable to attend the program as I'm undergoing health treatment in Kerala.

— H D Devegowda (@H_D_Devegowda) December 29, 2019

DMK chief MK Stalin commented on the necessity for "unity among secular parties" and wished the new government a successful tenure.

Honoured to be present at the swearing-in ceremony of @HemantSorenJMM.

Unity and coordination among secular parties essential to oppose #CAA & #NRC & #NPR fight back communal forces and protect social justice.

Wish the new government in Jharkhand a successful tenure. pic.twitter.com/gP8wKXInvu

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 29, 2019

In the just-conducted Assembly elections, the JMM- Congress-RJD alliance triumphed over the BJP, winning 47 seats in the 81-member House. Four other MLAs — three from the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) and one from the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) — have also extended support to the three-party coalition.

With inputs from PTI