PATNA: Senior BJP leader Raghubar Das, a five-time legislator representing the East Jamshedpur Assembly segment, is set to become the first non-tribal Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
And the former Deputy Chief Minister Das will be sworn in as the Chief Minister at the Morhabadi ground in Ranchi on December 28. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be among the galaxy of top leaders expected to attend the function.
Das’ name was proposed by another senior BJP leader and fellow contender for the CM post, Saryu Rai and seconded by veteran leader C P Singh.
BJP central observers, Union Minister J P Nadda and Vinay Sahastrabudhe, had attended the Legislature Party(LP) meeting, which finalised Das’ name for the top job.
Later, the CM-designate accompanied by a BJP delegation called on state Governor Syed Ahmed and staked the claim for government formation.
Das will be the 10th Chief minister of Jharkhand, which was carved out of Bihar in 2000. Since then the state has had nine governments and three stints of President’s Rule.
The saffron party, which fought the elections in alliance with the All Jharkhand Student’s Union (AJSU) and the Lok Janshakti Party(LJP) had secured an absolute majority, winning 42 seats along with its ally (AJSU) in the 81- member Jharkhand Assembly.