Bhupesh Baghel, took the oath of office and secrecy in Hindi as third Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh as Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath in the function held at Balbeer Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium, Budhatalab, the capital city, Raipur.
T S Singhdeo and Tamradwaj Sahu were also administered the oath of office and secrecy as ministers. The oath ceremony was fixed at 4.30 pm, later to 5.00 pm but it was held at 6.24 pm.
Several leaders from the Congress and its alliance partners from across the country attended the oath-taking ceremony of Bhupesh Baghel and two minister T S Singhdeo and Tamradwaj Sahu. They along with Rahul Gandhi had arrived at Swami Vivekananda Airport, Mana in two chartered flights. They were taken to the venue in a single Volvo-bus though arrangement for two buses was made.
The prominent personalities present at the swearing-in ceremony included Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, AICC general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his deputy Sachin Pilot, Congress leaders Anand Sharma, Raj Babbar, Mohsina Kidwai, Pramod Tiwari, Puducherry Chief Minister Narayan Swami, MPs Jyotiraditya Scindia, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav, Motilal Vora, Babulal Marandi, P K Kunhalikutty, Sanjay Singh, industrialist and Congress leader Naveen Jindal and others present.
Notable, Bhupesh Baghel always maintained distance from the former Chief Minister Raman Singh. He had never shared a dais with him any of the government programmes. But he approached Singh to extend an invitation on occasion of the marriage of his daughter. Raman Singh accepted it and attended the marriage function held at Bhilai.
Now, after being nominated as Chief Minister extended a personal invitation to attend oath ceremony. He was also offered the main stage with national leaders.
Baghel was always offensive against the outgoing Chief Minister and left no chance in attacking him and grilling him whether it was agitation of opposition at the road or was it state assembly.
Former Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal and former Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal were also present.
For the first time from his Bhilai residence, he left the house after meeting the family members and well-wishers in the CM cavalcade for the first time to Raipur, as per protocol.
He is wearing his normal dress of ‘Kurtha-Payjama’ and jacket and is expected to take the oath of office and secrecy in the same dress. No major preparations had been made by him for the crucial event of his life.
Bhupesh Baghel, AICC in-charge of Chhattisgarh P L Punia and others received Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and other leaders at the Swami Vivekananda Airport mana. They then left for the Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium, Budhatalab, capital city, Raipur. Tight security arrangements were made at the airport and venue. A large number of the party members and supporters were present in the oath ceremony.
Rain spoiled the open venue of oath ceremony of Bhupesh Baghel as Chief Minister at Science College ground, the capital city of Raipur. The venue was then shifted to Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium, Raipur.