By IANS
Shimla : Prem Kumar Dhumal took oath as the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh for the second time here Sunday in the presence of top leaders of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Dhumal was administered the oath of office and secrecy by state Governor V.S. Kokje at the sprawling Ridge ground in the heart of Shimla.
Those present included former deputy prime minister L.K.Advani, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhuwan Chand Khanduri and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Also present were BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudi besides senior state BJP leader Shanta Kumar.
Before being sworn-in, Dhumal told reporters: “We will provide a far better government to the state in the coming year and the next five years.”
Dhumal, 63, has earlier served as the chief minister of the state from 1998 to 2003.
Dhumal was the only person to be sworn in Sunday. Members of his cabinet are likely to take oath at a later date, party sources said.
The Ridge was crowded with both locals and a large number of New Year revellers who have flocked to Shimla from all over the country.
The BJP swept to power in the state Friday, winning 41 seats in the assembly elections. The outgoing Congress only managed 23 seats. Independants got three seats while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) managed one in a house of 68 members.