RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, July 3: Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan today administered oath of office and secrecy to Baby Devi as eleventh minister of the state at Raj Bhawan. Later, she was allocated the Excise department portfolio.
Devi is widow of former Education and Excise Minister Jagarnath Mahto, who passed away on April 6 this year, due to lungs problems.
The swearing-in ceremony remained a 10- minute function in which very limited persons, including Chief Minister Hemant Soren and JMM supremo Shibu Soren besides important officials having their role during the ceremony were present.
However, there were some controversies over the entry of the two ministers in the Raj Bhawan.
Tourism Minister Hafizul Ansari, who arrived with a large number of the JMM workers, was stopped at the Raj Bhawan gate. The Raj Bhawan officials, according to sources, asked him to go alone to the swearing-in ceremony as there was not enough for the party workers at the Darbar hall of Raj Bhawan. However, Hasan protested it and blocked the Raj Bhawan gate. In the meantime, drinking water and sanitation department minister Mithilesh Thakur also reached there and he too could not get entry as the gate was blocked. Later, according to sources, a CMO official intervened and thereafter the minister lifted the blockade.
Thakur, however, made it an issue and accused the Raj Bhawan of working at the behest of the Centre and termed it an ‘attack on democracy’.
“Not letting the ministers go. Not letting his workers go. Not letting media persons also. It is a complete dictatorship. The Raj Bhawan is working completely at the behest of the Centre,” he said.
During the swearing-in ceremony, Baby Devi’s competence as minister was reflected when she was noticed facing problems in reading the papers she had given.
