Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Chief Ministers to Take Oath Today

Bhopal/Raipur: Designated Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav is scheduled to take oath of office and secrecy here on Wednesday.

At least half-a-dozen ministers are also likely to be sworn-in by governor Mangubhai Patel on the occasion.

The chief minister-elect of Chhattisgarh Vishnu Deo Sai is also set to take oath in Raipur at three pm on Wednesday.

The swearing-in ceremonies of the chief minister-designates of the two states would be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda, BJP sources in both the states said on Tuesday.

Official sources here said that Mr Yadav was scheduled to take oath at around 11.30 am at Lal Parade Ground here.

State BJP president Vishnu Dutt Sharma accompanied by some senior party leaders on Tuesday visited the venue to review preparations for the swearing-in ceremony of the chief minister.

Meanwhile, Mr Yadav on Tuesday called on the senior leaders of BJP at their respective residences here to ‘take their blessings and guidance’ before assuming office.

He met the outgoing chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the latter’s official residence here to ‘take his blessings’.

He also paid courtesy visits to former Union minister and senior party leader Uma Bharti, former Union minister Narendra Sing Tomar, former BJP Lok Sabha member Rakesh Singh, former union minister Uma Bharti and former minister Narottam Mishra.

“I am meeting senior party leaders to seek their blessings”, he said.

Mr Yadav, an OBC leader, is the surprise pick of BJP for the post of chief minister in Madhya Pradesh.

State Congress president and former chief minister Kamal Nath also met him here on Tuesday to congratulate him for being appointed as new chief minister of Madhya Pradesh.

“My party will play the role of a constructive Opposition”, Mr Nath told reporters.

Chhattisgarh chief minister-elect Vishnu Deo Sai is also scheduled to take oath at Raipur on Wednesday.

His swearing-in ceremony will be held in the sprawling Science College Ground in Raipur, an official spokesman of the Chhattisgarh government said.

One or two ministers are likely to take oath on the occasion.

Mr Sai has extended an invitation to all the newly elected MLAs in Chhattisgarh on phone.

He also extended his invitation to former chief minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel and state Congress president Deepak Baij on phone on Wednesday to the occasion.