Jayalalithaa sworn in as CM
AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa was on Monday (16.05.2011) sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for the third time, along with 33 ministers, at a glittering function at the Madras University centenary auditorium here. This was the same venue where she took over as Chief Minister for the first time in 1991.
Jayalalithaa has retained the home and police portfolios.
Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala administered the oath of office and secrecy. The 63-year-old Jayalalithaa and others took the oath in Tamil and in the name of god. This would be the largest-ever ministry in the state since Independence. Jayalalithaa will be retaining the home and police portfolios.
The DMK and the Congress both skipped the oath-taking ceremony for the new government. Both parties contested the election jointly, and were hammered, with the DMK managing only 22 seats.
The AIADMK leader had steered the alliance led by her party to a spectacular victory in the elections by winning 200 of the total 234 seats. Jayalalithaa's new ministry is a blend of experience and youth. Most of the ministers are making their maiden entry into the state Cabinet.
The swearing-in ce remony was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister
N. Chandrababu Naidu and CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan, among others.
