Manmohan Singh takes oath as PM

22 May 2009

Manmohan Singh assumed office for a second term as prime minister of India today, along with a 19-member cabinet team. President Pratibha Patil administered the oath of office and secrecy to Manmohan Singh and his council of ministers at the Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan at  6.30 pm.

Coincidentally, Manmohan Singh started his innings as prime minister same date in 2004.

The cabinet ministers sworn in today include:

1. Pranab Mukherjee
2. A K Antony
3. P Chidambaram
4. S M Krishna
5. Ghulam Nabi Azad
6. Veerappa Moily
7. Sushilkumar Shinde
8. S Jaipal Reddy
9. Kamal Nath
10. Vayalar Ravi
11. Meira Kumar
12. Murli Deora
13. Kapil Sibal
14. Ambika Soni
15. B K Handique
16. Anand Sharma
17. C P Joshi  - all if Congress;
18. Sharad Pawar (NCP)
19. Mamata Banerjee (Trinamool Congress)

Handique, currently minister of state for parliamentary affairs and Sharma, minister of state for information and broadcasting, are being elevated to cabinet rank.

While Mukherjee is expected to retain the finance portfolio which he got as additional charge towards the end of the tenure of the outgoing government, SM Krishna or Kamal Nath may get external affairs.

Chidambaram and Antony are expected to retain home and defence, respectively.