NEW DELHI: The expansion of Jharkhand’s cabinet will take place on December 5, as announced on Tuesday. The entire cabinet will be sworn in on Thursday, according to former Congress chief Rajesh Thakur who also offered clarification about the delay in choosing the cabinet. The ministers will take their oath of office and secrecy at Raj Bhavan, administered by governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar.
Thakur confirmed that the process is nearly finalised, with key discussions held with the party’s central leadership. Thakur emphasised that all decisions taken by the leadership would be acceptable to all stakeholders, while justifying the time delay. “Certainly when a big decision is taken, it is discussed and suggestions are taken from our central leadership. Almost everything has been completed, we have sought time from the Governor and the entire cabinet will be sworn in on 5th December. Whatever decision the leadership takes will be acceptable to all,” said Thakur.
Later, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader offered further details on the ceremony in a statement to PTI saying, “Eleven ministers are likely to take oath of the JMM-led coalition government on December 5 around 12 noon.”
Meanwhile, assuring inclusion of ‘every section in cabinet’, JMM General Secretary, Supriyo Bhattacharya said, “We will form the cabinet in a very cordial manner. Every division will get its representation. Women, youth, farmers will be included in it.”
This comes following Congress’ meeting with the party’s central leadership on Monday after which Jharkhand affairs in charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir told reporters, “The cabinet expansion is the prerogative of the CM. We are ready with the names and will share the list with the CM after he finalises the time for the cabinet expansion and seeks a date from the Raj Bhavan for the oath-taking ceremony. The special assembly session is starting on Dec 9. We are ready whenever he (CM) wants, including Dec 8.”
While JMM chief Hemant Soren took oath as the 14th chief minister of Jharkhand, suspense had remained around the cabinet ministers. The government has been formed in state after the opposition INDIA bloc which includes JMM obtained 56 seats in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly, whilethe BJP-led NDA secured 24 seats. The cabinet’s inaugural meeting has resolved to hold an assembly session from December 9-12.
While Jharkhand prepares to expand the cabinet, Maharashtra is also set to swear-in the chief minister on December 5 where the Mahuyuti alliance won with BJP in dominance with 132 seats.