Tuesday, September 19 2006 10:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: Independent MLA Madhu Koda was yesterday (Sept 18, 2006)sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand at the head of a three-member ministry comprising MLAs whose desertion led to the downfall of the BJP-led Government in the state last week.

Koda, 35, took oath of office and secrecy along with Kamlesh Singh of NCP and Enos Ekka and Harinarain Rai, both independents, to become the youngest Chief Minister in a change of guard that caps weeks of political turmoil caused by resignation of the quartet from the BJP-led government and its withdrawal of support to it reducing it to a minority.

The first meeting of the new cabinet, chaired by Koda, decided that the Chief Minister will seek a vote of confidence in the state assembly on September 20.

Governor Syed Sibte Razi, who administered the oath to Koda and three others, had earlier directed that the confidence vote be taken up on or by September 25.

Koda claimed the support of 42 legislators in a House of 82.

Reflecting the political flux in the state, this was the state's fifth Chief Minister in less than six years of its existence. Munda was Chief minister twice. Babulal Marandi was the first Chief Minister and Shibu Soren had headed the government for nine days.

The NDA government fell on September 14 when Arjun Munda resigned on the floor of the house without securing the trust vote as his ministry had been reduced to a minority following the withdrawal of support by Koda, Ekka, Singh and Rai.

Briefing the media on the cabinet meeting, cabinet secretary Aditya Swaroop said that the trust vote would be taken up on September 20.