Congress leaders Kamal Nath, Ashok Gehlot to be sworn-in as Chief Ministers on December 17; Rahul Gandhi to attend ceremony

Senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Ashok Gehlot will be sworn-in as chief ministers of their respective states on December 17.

In Madhya Pradesh, after being chosen as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Nath (72) met the Governor on Friday morning and conveyed to her the resolution of the CLP electing him as its leader. The ceremony will be held in the Lal Parade Ground at 1.30 p.m.

He told reporters that his main focus would be on the agriculture sector, which is the backbone of any economy, and joblessness among the youth.

"Joblessness in the state among the youth is one of my biggest challenges," he said.

Kamal Nath was accompanied by a delegation of leaders including former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, Vivek Tankha, MP, Arun Yadav and Deepak Babaria, General Secretary in-charge of Madhya Pradesh.

He was chosen as the Congress Legislature Party leader at a meeting late on Thursday night after two days of consultations, including parleys held by the party chief.

Soon afterward he announced that he will fulfill all the promises his party made in the election manifesto.

The Congress won 114 seats in the 230-member House. It fell two seats short of the half-way mark but ensured the support of 121 MLAs with Samajwadi Party (one seat), Bahujan Samaj Party (2) and four Independents backing it.

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In Rajasthan, CM designate Ashok Gehlot thanked the public and party workers for their support. Deputy CM Sachin Pilot will also take oath on December 17.

“We would like to thank the public and our workers. Oath ceremony of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister will take place on December 17 and then the cabinet will be inducted,” said Gehlot.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot as Rajasthan CM and Dy CM respectively in Jaipur at 10 am. He will also attend the oath ceremony of Kamal Nath as Madhya Pradesh CM at 1:30 pm on the same day.

The Congress was one short of a clear majority in Rajasthan, winning 99 of the 199 seats for which polls were held.