Conscious of the onerous task of leading a government with just a four-seat majority, Congress leader Oommen Chandy let the inauspicious Rahu Kaalam pass off before taking oath as the 21st chief minister of the state here on Wednesday. Six ministers of the United Democratic Front were also sworn in along with him. The Rahu Kaalam got over at 1.30 pm and soon after that Mr Chandy arrived at Raj Bhavan for the swearing-in ceremony, which began on dot at 2 pm.
Clad in his trademark spotless khadi shirt with a multi-coloured angavastram around his neck, the 67-year-old chief minister took oath in God’s name as the makeshift pandal at Raj Bhavan reverberated with slogans in his praise. This is his second stint as the chief minister of the state. Earlier he held the post for 619 days. Mr P.K. Kunhalikutty, who represents the Indian Union Muslim League, the second biggest party in the UDF coalition, was the second to take oath. He was in his usual attire of a half-sleeve shirt and dhoti but had a traditional black headgear.
Mr Kunhalikutty took oath in the name of Allah among shouts from his supporters who had come all the way from Malabar to attend the swearing-in ceremony.