First-Time MLA, Bhajan Lal Sharma Takes Oath As Rajasthan Chief Minister

Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma: Bhajan Lal Sharma's name was announced on Tuesday after the Central observers' team of Rajnath Singh, Saroj Pandey and Vinod Tawde met state party leaders.

Bhajan Lal Sharma, a first-time MLA, was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan in a ceremony in Jaipur on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J P Nadda, several union ministers and chief ministers of different states were present in the ceremony in front of the iconic Albert Hall. 

Sharma, who won the polls from Sanganer, was administered the oath of office by Governor Kalraj Mishra.

PM Narendra Modi took to X, formerly Twitter, and commended Sharma's efforts and congratulated him on becoming the CM.

"Birthday greetings to Rajasthan's CM Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma Ji. A dedicated Party Karyakarta for years, he has made commendable efforts to strengthen BJP across the state. As he embarks on his Chief Ministerial journey, I wish him the very best in fulfilling people's aspirations," the PM said.

Along with Sharma, Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa, who were named as deputy chief ministers in the recently held BJP legislature party meeting, also took the oath.

Vidhyadhar Nagar MLA Kumari and Dudu MLA Bairwa were announced as the picks for deputy chief ministers and Ajmer North MLA Vasudev Devnani as the speaker of the assembly on Tuesday 

Earlier in the day, Sharma offered prayers at a temple in Jaipur ahead of his swearing-in ceremony as CM of Rajasthan.

Massive security and sitting arrangements were made at the venue where a large number of people were present to witness the ceremony. A party spokesperson said invitations were sent to central leaders and state chief ministers for the ceremony.

Sharma's name was announced on Tuesday as the chief minister-designate during a BJP legislature party meeting in the presence of the party's central observers Rajnath Singh, Saroj Pandey and Vinod Tawde.

The Bharatiya Janta Party won 115 seats in the November 25 assembly elections while the Congress got 69 seats. 

After his selection, Bhajanlal Sharma thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and other senior party leaders after he was named as the next chief minister of Rajasthan. He also thanked former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for proposing his name as the new BJP legislature party leader.

 

In New CM's Swearing-In, Rivals Gehlot, Shekhawat Sit Next To Each Other

Former Rajasthan CM and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot was also present at the swearing-in ceremony in Jaipur.

He sat next to "rival" Gajendra Singh Shekhwat. The former CM has been repeatedly accusing Union minister Shekhawat of being involved in the Sanjivani Credit Co-operative Society 'scam', reported PTI. Whereas Shekhawat has filed a defamation case against Gehlot in Delhi.

Despite this, the two leaders were seen talking together as they waited for the oath-taking ceremony to begin.