Young Akhilesh sworn in UP Chief Minister

LUCKNOW: Thirty eight year-old Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav took oath as Chief Minister (CM) of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday for the fi rst time, becoming the youngest CM of state. Akhilesh took oath in the name of god at 11.34 am at the sprawling La Martiniere College grounds here. Hundreds of thousands of supporters thronged the venue since early morning. Twenty nine ministers of state were sworn-in the new government. SP leaders Azam Khan and Shivpal Yadav took the oath in presence of Uttar Pradesh Governor Banwari Lal Joshi. The SP had gained absolute majority by winning 224 seats in the 403-member Assembly. A host of top VVIPs including, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, UP Congress president Rita Bahaguna Joshi, CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari witnessed the swearing-in ceremony of Akhilesh who became the youngest ever CM of Uttar Pradesh today. Though invitations were also sent to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalaithaa, however both AIADMK and TMC chief were not able to attend, but sent their emissionaries to attend the ceremony. The 38-year-old Akhilesh will be the state’s youngest chief minister and his Cabinet is likely to be a mix of youth and experience. He, however, will have his task cut out fulfi lling the long list of promises made by his party in its poll manifesto. Samajwadi Party had announced a slew of poll sops, including providing laptops to intermediate pass students, tablet computers to high-school pass outs, allowance to unemployed youths, and free treatment to patients suffering from serious ailments and loan waivers for farmers. Akhilesh will also have to take a call on constituting a commission for taking legal opinion on providing reservation to Muslims and implementing recommendations of the Ranganath Mishra Commission and the Sachar Committee. The SP leader has said improving law and order situation and rooting out corruption in the state are among his top priorities. Besides, restoration of student unions in universities and colleges will also be a challenge for him. Even before taking the reins of the state, the party is under attack from Opposition parties, including outgoing Chief Minister Mayawati, who has alleged that the law and order situation had deteriorated following declaration of poll results in favour of SP.