Ramesh Bias takes oath as 10th governor; lays stress on developing Jharkhand

RANCHI: Ramesh Bias took oath as the 10th governor of Jharkhand in Raj Bhavan on Wednesday. He was administered the oath of office by Jharkhand high court’s chief justice Ravi Ranjan.
The ceremony was held at Raj Bhavan’s Birsa Mandap. As many as 150 guests attended the event including around 50 family members and relatives of the new governor. “Keeping the Covid-19 situation in mind, the guest list was pruned from last time,” a senior Raj Bhawan official said requesting anonymity.
Chief minister Hemant Soren, the ministers of his cabinet and senior bureaucrats of the state attended the ceremony. Welcoming Bias into the office, Soren said: “I sincerely hope that we will get his guidance in steering the state into its path of development.”
Speaking to journalists after taking oath, Bias said his primary focus will be ensuring the development of Jharkhand. “I will work along with the chief minister and if necessary, will seek all help from the Centre in ensuring that Jharkhand remains on the path of development,” he said. Bias also said that he has invited Soren for a detailed discussion about the state.
Congratulatory messages poured in from all quarters for Bias after he assumed office. Former chief minister Raghubar Das, in a written statement, congratulated Bias on his appointment. “During your tenure, the interests of the institutions will be preserved and upheld, law and order will be restored and those who are engaged in unfair practices will be held accountable,” Das said in a statement.
The BJP, however, criticised the incumbent government for not inviting two former chief ministers at the swearing-in ceremony. “The JMM-led coalition government demonstrated a lowly mindset by not inviting Raghubar Das and Babulal Marandi, the two former CMs of the state. Apart from being the first CM of Jharkhand, Babulal Ji is also the leader of BJP’s legislative party. An inquiry should be initiated against the officials of the state cabinet coordination department and action should be taken,” BJP’s state general secretary Aditya Sahu said.