Five-Time MLA Jairam Thakur Sworn-In As Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister

Bharatiya Janata Party’s five-time MLA Jairam Thakur took oath as the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh today (27 December) in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party President Amit Shah.

Thakur was elected to govern the state after the party’s chief ministerial candidate and two-time chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal was defeated by none other than his former aide Rajendra Rana who had revolted and joined Congress even as the BJP won a landslide victory in the election with 44 seats.

Governor Aacharya Devvrat administered the oath of office and secrecy to 52-year-old Thakur and ten ministers who will form his cabinet.

Thakur had served as Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister in Dhumal's government from 2008 to 2012.

Thakur is considered close to Union Health Minister J P Nadda, who moved to the Centre after a conflict with Dhumal.

This was the first time in Himachal’s history that the Prime Minister attended an oath-taking ceremony.