Ranchi: Shibu Soren will take oath as Jharkhand's chief minister on Wednesday three and a half hours before the original schedule, because that's what his astrologers want.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief was earlier scheduled to take oath at 1400 hrs IST in the Morabadi ground in Ranchi but the ceremony will now be held at 1030 hrs IST, party officials said.
The JMM is set to form the government in Jharkhand with support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU).
According to sources in the state governor's office, Soren had on Monday requested Governor K Sankaranarayanan to reschedule the swearing-in ceremony. The governor agreed and asked him to prove his majority on the floor of the state Assembly by January 8.
"Astrologers had suggested that he (Soren) take oath at 1030 hrs IST instead of 1400 hrs IST. Given the past record of political instability, it was decided to reschedule the time of the swearing-in ceremony," a JMM leader said.
On Tuesday, preparation for the ceremony were on in full swing at the Morabadi ground. A huge stage has been erected and barricaded for Wednesday's function.
Soren had on Monday gone to Mumbai to meet and invite BJP President Nitin Gadkari to the ceremony. He also went to New Delhi to invite Janata Dal-United (JD-U) chief Sharad Yadav.
Soren had Saturday staked claim to form the government with a list of 45 legislators supporting him in the 81-member House.
He is being supported by the BJP, AJSU, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and two Independent legislators. The BJP and JMM have 18 legislators each, AJSU has five and JD-U has two.
As per their understanding, BJP will have four ministers, JMM and AJSU three each and JD-U one. In Jharkhand, there can be a maximum 12 ministers including the chief minister.
A full Cabinet is likely to take oath Wednesday along with Soren. The BJP, JMM and AJSU are discussing who their nominees will be.
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