Amarinder Singh sworn-in as Punjab Chief Minister, PM Narendra Modi congratulates Captain

Chandigarh: After steering the Congress to a stupendous victory, Captain Amarinder Singh was sworn in as the Punjab Chief Minister on Thursday.

Singh was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor VP Singh Badnore at Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Amarinder Singh on taking over as Punjab CM, wished him the best in working for state's development.

"Congratulations @capt_amarinder on taking oath as CM. Wishing you the very best in working for Punjab’s development," the PM tweeted.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh were present during the swearing-in ceremony.

Amarinder, who turned 75 on March 11 when assembly results were declared, was sworn in as the state's 26th chief minister along with nine cabinet ministers.

Navjot Singh Sidhu and Manpreet Singh Badal were also sworn-in as a cabinet minister of Punjab government.

Speculation was rife that the cricketer-turned politician Sidhu would be given the post of deputy chief minister but he was the third among the list of nine ministers sworn in today.

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The others who took oath as cabinet ministers, four-time MLA Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, and Punjab’s wealthiest MLA Rana Gurjit Singh. Congress Legislate Party leader Charanjit Singh Channi and Nabha MLA Sadhu Singh Dharamsot.

Two women MLAs, Aruna Chaudhary and Razia Sultana, took oath as ministers of state.

Besides Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi, prominent faces at the ceremony included​, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Anand Sharma, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Kapil Sibal, Raj Babbar, Ambika Soni, Rajeev Shukla, Sachin Pilot, Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Chandra, Ashok Gehlot, Asha Kumari.

Amarinder's friend from Pakistan, Aroosa Alam, also attended the swearing-in ceremony.

Amarinder Singh had earlier appealed to all party MLAs and others not to indulge in excessive celebration and to keep the event austere so as not to further burden the "debt-ridden state exchequer".

The Congress swept the elections with 77 seats in the 117-member Assembly.