Shivraj Chouhan sworn in as MP CM

Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who brought the Bharatiya Janata Party [ Images ] back to power in Madhya Pradesh [ Images ] staving off anti-incumbency and banking on politics of development, was on Friday sworn-in as the Chief Minister for the second successive term.

Watched by a galaxy of top party leaders, including BJP chief Rajnath Singh, Chouhan, 49 , was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Balram Jakhar [ Images ], marking a high-point in the three-decade-old career of a politician who had taken over the reins of the party in the state at a critical time following the resignation of Uma Bharti.

Chouhan was the only person to take oath and he would expand his ministry later.

Besides Rajnath Singh, Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states Narendra Modi [ Images ] (Gujarat), Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh), B C Khanduri and their counterparts from Bihar (Nitish Kumar), Punjab [ Images ] (Parkash Singh Badal) and Orissa (Naveen Patnaik) were also present on the occasion.

BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and filmstar and Rajya Sabha Hema Malini [ Images ] provided a tinge of glamour to the function held at the Jamboori Maidan where BJP had organised a rally in September to take a vow to bring the party back power.

Eminent music director Ravindra Jain sang bhajans before the swearing and an all-religion prayer meeting was also held.