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Rabri Devi sworn in as Bihar CM

The Rashtriya Janata Dal Legislature Party leader, Rabri Devi, was sworn in as chief minister of Bihar today, a day after the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance government in the state bowed out of office.

Governor Vinod Chandra Pande gave Rabri Devi ten days time to prove her government's majority on the floor of the 325-member House.

The RJD with 124 legislators in the new House has the support of the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) besides some other smaller parties and Independents.

Senior RJD and Congress leaders were present at the swearing-in function. Though most of NDA leaders boycotted the ceremony held at Raj Bhawan, Anand Mohan Singh, leader of the Bihar People's Party, an NDA constituent, was present.

Wife of Bihar strongman and RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi was first chosen to step into her husband's shoes nearly two and a half years ago. This is the third time she has become the chief minister.

The new chief minister said her ministry would be a coalition in which all supporting parties would be given representation.

''Talks are underway with the Congress, the BSP and other like-minded parties,'' she told newspersons after the swearing-in ceremony.

She said improving law and order would be her government's first priority. ''We will also ensure economic uplift of the poorer sections of the society,'' she added.

Laloo Yadav, who also addressed press persons, said his party would continue its agitation demanding the recall of Governor Vinod Chandra Pande.

He also said that ''partisan'' Central Bureau of Investigations officers would not be permitted to enter the state without the permission of the court.

A CBI letter seeking permission to file a charge-sheet against Rabri devi in a disproportionate asset case is pending before the governor.

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