Thursday, May 22, 2014

Chamling sworn in as CM for fifth consecutive time

GANGTOK, 21 May: Pawan Chamling was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Sikkim for the fifth consecutive term today at Ashirwad Bhawan in Raj Bhawan today in the presence of more than 600 dignitaries including senior bureaucrats, SDF party functionaries, opposition leaders and Justices of the High Court of Sikkim.
Governor Shriniwas Dadasahib Patil administered the oath of office to the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues. Mr. Chamling is currently the longest serving Chief Minister in office in the country and is three years shy of breaking the 23 year record [1977 to 2000] of the erstwhile West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu.
Interestingly, Mr. Chamling also holds the record of being the longest serving Legislator in Sikkim, having been an MLA since 1984. The present year marks his 20th year as the Chief Minister of Sikkim and 30th as an MLA!
Mr. Chamling has retained the portfolios of Home; Finance, Revenue & Expenditure; Development Planning; Economic Reforms & NE Council Affairs and departments not allotted to any other Minister.
Born on 22 September 1950 at Yangang in South Sikkim, Mr. Chamling was elected to the Sikkim Legislative Assembly in 1984 from Damthang constituency. This term, he has won elections from Namchi-Singithang and Rangang-Yangang constituencies, both in South Sikkim.
Today, Mr. Chamling arrived at the Ashirwad Bhawan at 10:20 AM and took the oath of secrecy in Hindi [a first for him] as Chief Minister and signed his paper at 10:25 am. The Governor offered khadas to him and extended his best wishes.
The Governor also administered the oath to Mr. Chamling’s 11 Cabinet colleagues. There are five new faces in the Cabinet this time while AK Ghatani is also a first time MLA.
The four other new faces in the Cabinet are: Ugen T Gyatso Bhutia, elected from Tumin-Lingee and who served as Chief Whip in the last term; NK Subba, elected from Maneybong-Dentam who returns to the Legislative Assembly after a one-term lay-off; Tulsi Devi Rai a second term MLA elected from Melli; and Tshering Wangdi Lepcha, a second term MLA from Lachen-Mangan.
Chamling on swearing-in
While the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling refrained from talking to the media today, he wrote on a social media site: “Today, in all humility and sense of supreme duty and responsibility, I took oath as the Chief Minister at the oath taking ceremony administered by the Hon’ble Governor Shriniwas Patil at Raj Bhawan.
This day certainly calls for history in making as this glorious day will be inked to mark the historic victory of Sikkimese people for reposing their faith in Sikkim Democratic Front Party to govern the State for the record 5th consecutive term. SDF Party upholds and promotes the motto of peace, progress and prosperity and our party stands committed to fulfill range of holistic developmental programmes and socio-economic and cultural progress among hosts of commitments pledged to the people.
I, on behalf of my team of dedicated Ministers, MLAs and party functionaries assure to serve and work for the collective interest of Sikkimese people for all time to come. I once again congratulate my fellow Sikkimese people and extend my heartiest gratitude for giving us this resounding mandate once again”.





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