Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], November 27 : Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of Jharkhand CM-designate Hemant Soren, Congress state in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir stated on Wednesday that only the Chief Minister will take the oath on Thursday, while the ministers will be sworn in after the cabinet is finalised.
Speaking to the media at Birsa Munda Airport, Mir said, "I want to congratulate the people of Jharkhand for their decision in favour of our alliance. The government formation process begins tomorrow. For now, it has been decided that only Hemant Soren will take the oath tomorrow. Following that, the vote of confidence, which is customary, will take place, and then he will expand his cabinet."
He added, "Most probably, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi will attend the ceremony tomorrow."
JMM leader Mahua Maji described the swearing-in ceremony of Hemant Soren as a "historic day" for Jharkhand.
"Winning with such a thumping majority--Hemant Soren's Mahagathbandhan secured 56 seats (out of a total of 81). The BJP often boasts of a '56-inch chest', but we have won 56 seats. You will witness how development unfolds in Jharkhand. Hemant Soren aspires to make Jharkhand the number one state in the country. Despite being rich in mineral resources, Jharkhand was pushed to the status of the most backward state under BJP rule. Hemant Soren is determined to remove this blot, and we are confident he will achieve this. Today, Hemant Soren stands as the most prominent tribal leader," she said.
Maji also noted the BJP's electoral setbacks, comparing its defeat in Jharkhand to its struggles in Ayodhya.
"We extend our best wishes to the INDIA alliance government and Hemant Soren. We are confident that Jharkhand will become the number one state during this tenure. Prominent leaders from across the country are coming to Jharkhand for the swearing-in ceremony. I have been informed that Sonia Gandhi is arriving, and Mamata Banerjee is also expected. The Prime Minister has been invited as well, and we await his arrival," the JMM leader added.
Former Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur also confirmed that while the Chief Minister will be sworn in tomorrow, the ministers will take the oath after the cabinet is constituted.
Hemant Soren will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on November 28, following the JMM-led alliance's majority victory in the Assembly elections. This marks the first time in Jharkhand's history that an incumbent government, having completed five years in office, has returned to power.