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Narendra Modi was sworn in the Gujarat chief minister on Sunday at an extravagant function that was unparalleled for its scale and ostentation.
Governor Sunder Singh Bhandari administered the oath of office to Modi and nine ministers amid cheering and waving of saffron flags by more than 50,000 Bharatiya Janata Party activists.
Modi formally takes over from his predecessor Keshubhai Patel, whose 42-month rule was dogged by controversies and dissidence and climaxed with the BJP's rout in the last month's by-elections to the Sabarkantha Lok Sabha and Sabarmati assembly seats.
The swearing-in was also extraordinary for its assemblage: three chief ministers and several Cabinet ministers, film stars as well as a few captains of trade and industry came to congratulate Modi.
National Democratic Alliance convenor George Fernandes and former BJP president Bangaru Laxman too attended the function.
Film star Mukesh Khanna added glamour to the show that was "webcast" live on Modi's personal website www.narendramodi.com, as well as on the state's official sites www.gujaratcm.com and www.gujaratindia.com.
Indo-Asian News Service
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