BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi greets Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during his swearing-in ceremony in Bhopal
was sworn-in as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister for a third consecutive term, nearly a week after he led the BJP to a spectacular hat-trick in the Assembly elections.
The 54-year-old leader was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav at a ceremony held at Jamboree ground in Bhopal, shortly after noon.
The BJP's top brass, including its prime ministerial candidate
Narendra Modi, party chief Rajnath Singh, veteran L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley. Leaders from its allies, Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akali Dal, also attended the ceremony including Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
The ceremony was also attended by and BJP chief ministers Raman Singh,
Vasundhara Raje Scindia, and Manohar Parriker.
Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu, who is of late cozying up to the saffron party, was also present along with industrialist Anil Ambani.
Known for maintaining a low-profile, Mr Chouhan led the BJP to win an impressive 165 seats in 230-member legislative assembly reducing the Congress tally to just 58. Banners, posters, flags and pamphlets carrying his pictures were put alongside roads, markets and the venue.