Gangtok: Pawan Kumar Chamling was yesterday sworn in as Sikkim’s chief minister for a record fifth consecutive term.
Governor Shriniwas Patil administered the oath of office to the 63-year-old Chamling and 11 ministers at Raj Bhavan here.
The Chamling-led Sikkim Democratic Front secured a two-thirds majority in the assembly election, winning 22 seats out of 32. In power since December 12, 1994, Chamling has already completed two uninterrupted decades as the chief minister of the erstwhile Himalayan kingdom which merged with India in 1975.
Chamling is poised to break the record of former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu as the longest running head of government of any Indian state. Basu ruled West Bengal for 23 years from 1977 till 2000.
Sikkim has the lowest percentage of people below poverty line and its per capita income is much higher than the national average. Chamling has promised to eradicate poverty in the state by 2017. He is also working towards making Sikkim the first debt-free state in India. IANS
