BOMBAY, 19 January 2003 — Sushil Kumar Shinde was yesterday sworn in as Maharashtra’s 22nd chief minister at the Raj Bhavan. Governor Mohammed Fazal administered the oath of office and secrecy to Shinde and six Cabinet and nine junior ministers who were sworn in along with him.

Shinde, the first Dalit chief minister of one of the country’s most industrialized states, was the only one from the Congress party that heads the ruling coalition in Maharashtra to be sworn in. The other incumbents are from the parties that support the ruling coalition. Shinde had been the longest serving finance minister of the state, having presented the fiscal budget on nine occasions.

Among those sworn in yesterday was Chhagan Bhujbal of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the second biggest party in the coalition.

Bhujbal was the deputy chief minister in the previous government headed by Vilasrao Deshmukh and is likely to retain the position. He is also likely to retain the home portfolio.

The other Cabinet ministers sworn in were Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, Padamsinh Patil, Madhukar Pichad of the NCP, Dashrath Bhande of the Bharipa Bhahujan Mahasangh and Harshavardhan Patil (Independent).

The ministers of state inducted were Sulekha Kumbhare (Republican Party of India-Gavai), Dada Jadhavrao (Janata Dal-Secular), Dharmarao Baba Atram (Gondwana Gantantra Party), Ramdas Bodkhe (Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh) and Sanjay Deshmukh, Shivaji Kardile, Ajit Ghorpade, Vinayakrao Jadhav and Digambar Bagal (all Independents).

Among those who were present on the occasion were former President K.R. Narayanan, Congress general secretary in charge of Maharashtra Vayalar Ravi and Maharashtra Congress President Govindrao Adik, who is widely tipped to be included in the Cabinet after a replacement is found for him in the party set-up.

After the swearing in, Shinde told reporters he would seek a trust vote in the assembly on Jan. 22. While more ministers are likely to be inducted over the next few days, the final distribution of portfolios is likely to be decided only after the trust vote. (IANS)