Soren gives deputy chief minister posts to BJP, AJSU

Ranchi, Dec 30: Shibu Soren, who took over as chief minister Wednesday named Raghubar Das of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Sudesh Mahto of the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) as his deputy chief ministers.

"The cabinet in its meeting decided to send recommendation to the governor requesting to accord deputy chief minister's status to Raghubar Das and Sudesh Mahto," Aditya Swaroop, Jharkhand cabinet secretary, told reporters.

Soren took oath as the chief minister along with Das and Mahto earlier Wednesday. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has formed a coalition government with the support of the BJP, the AJSU and a few independents.

They were administered the oaths of office by Jharkhand Governor K. Shankaranarayanan.