Lucknow, Aug 29: Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav was today sworn-in as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri administered the oath of office and secrecy to Yadav at a function at Laxmman Mela Ground on the banks of River Gomti. Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, Defence Minister George Fernandes, former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar, business tycoon Anil Ambani and senior BJP leader Kalraj Mishra were among those who attended the swearing-in ceremony. Mulayam`s predecessor Mayawati was conspicuous by her absence. Yadav, who assumed the office of the Chief Minister for the third time, is the 31st Chief Minister of the state.

Yadav, who has been asked by the Governor to prove his majority within 14 days, left his residence at Vikramaditya Marg here in an open jeep and reached the venue of the function accompanied by RKP chief Kalyan Singh, RLD chief Ajit Singh and UPCC president Jagadambika Pal.


63-year-old Yadav, who will head a coalition government, was the only one to take oath today.

The SP, with 142 members, is the single largest party in the assembly. It has the support of Congress (16 MLAs), RLD (14), RKP (4), CPI-M (2), Independents and Others (19) and BSP (13). Bureau Report