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Digvijay Singh takes over as Madhya Pradesh CM

Digvijay Singh was today sworn-in as the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh for the second consecutive term.

Governor Dr Bhai Mahavir administered the oath of office and secrecy to Singh at the Raj Bhavan in Bhopal. Singh took the oath alone.

Senior Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee, Arjun Singh and Madhavrao Scindia, AICC general secretary Tariq Anwar, AICC secretary Ramesh Chennithala, state Congress president Urmila Singh, former chief ministers Shyama Charan Shukla, Motilal Vora, former Union ministers V C Shukla and Kamal Nath were present on the occasion.

An engineer-turned politician, 51-year-old Digvijay Singh is the 25th chief minister to lead the country's largest state after the Congress retained power, winning 173 seats in the 320-member Vidhan Sabha.

Earlier in the day, the newly elected Congress legislature party met and unanimously adopted a resolution, authorising Congress president Sonia Gandhi to select its leader. The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Digvijay Singh and seconded by former chief minister Shyama Charan Shukla.

AICC observer and senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee later spoke to Gandhi, who gave her nod for the re-election of Singh for a second consecutive term.

Later, a formal letter on behalf of the CLP was sent to governor Dr Bhai Mahavir requesting him to invite the newly elected leader to form a government.

Singh has left for Delhi to hold consultations with the party high command about the constitution of his council of ministers.

UNI

Assembly Election '98

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