Non-Congress ministry in Bihar takes over

Patna: The first nonCongress government in Bihar headed by 57-yearold Mahamaya Prasad Sinha was sworn-in at Raj Bhavan this morning.

The oath of secrecy and office to the 11 ministers and three ministers of state was administered by governor S.A. Ayyangar.

The first to take the oath was Mahamaya Prasad Sinha followed by deputy leader Karpoori Thakur, a Samyukta Socialist nominee. The chief minister is the chairman of the Janakranti Dal.

The other ministers are: Kamkhya Narayan Singh and Basant Narayan Singh (Janakranti), Ramanand Tiwary, Bindeshwari Prasad Mandal, Bhola Prasad Singh and Indradeep Narayan Singh (CPI-R), Vijoya Kumar Mitra and Ramdeo Mahto (Jana Sangh).

The ministers of state are: Mahbir Paswa (Janakranti Dal), Rudra Pratap Sarngi (Jan Sangh) and Tejnarayana Jha (CPI-R).

The swearing-in ceremony was witnessed by a gathering of distinguished visitors in the spacious lounge of the Raj Bhavan.

Outside the Raj Bhavan, a huge crowd, most of them carrying flags of different political parties, was waiting. The crowd burst into cheers as the motorcade carrying the new ministers passed by.

Among those who attended the ceremony were Atal Behari Vajpayee, M.P. (Jan Sangh), high court judges, top officials of the government and special invitees, including a number of legislators, Mahesh Prasad Sinha, leader of the Congress-Opposition and a few ministers of the outgoing Cabinet were also present.

The leader of the Congress Legislature Party, M.P. Sinha embraced the chief minister and warmly hugged him.