Kerala swearing-in: 2 ministers opt for solemn affirmation, Muraleedharan takes oath in English
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): As Chief Minister V D Satheesan and 20 ministers were sworn in by Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, two cabinet members chose to “solemnly affirm” instead of taking the oath in the name of God.
Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) leader Shibu Baby John was the first to make a solemn affirmation rather than take the oath in the name of God.
Similarly, Communist Marxist Party (CMP) leader C P John also solemnly affirmed his oath.
Both leaders belong to parties that follow left-socialist ideologies but are part of the UDF.
Meanwhile, all other ministers took oath in Malayalam, while senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan was the only one sworn in in English.
He took both the oath of office and oath of secrecy in English.
The swearing-in ceremony, which began at 10 am, concluded around 11.30 am at Central Stadium here.
The UDF government came to power after winning 102 out of 140 seats in the Kerala Assembly.
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Road crash in UP leaves 10 dead
Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) (PTI): Ten people were killed when a van collided head-on with a truck on the Sisaiya-Lakhimpur national highway on Monday, police said.
The van was going to Sisaiya from Lakhimpur when the accident took place between Unchgaon and Bharehta villages.
Circle Officer of Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh, said all nine passengers travelling in the van and the driver were killed.
District Magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri Anjani Kumar Singh told reporters that the van collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction, leading to nine casualties on the spot, while one succumbed to injuries at the district hospital.
Circle Officer, Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh told PTI, "Efforts are on to establish the identity of other deceased persons."
The seven of the deceased have been identified as Jaideep Singh (25), Pawan (23), Sohan (21), Ram Goyal (42), Sahajram (35), Pappu (18), all residents of Bahraich district and Adnan Khan (15), a resident of Lakhimpur Kheri district, police said.
Condoling the loss of lives in the accident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a post on X, said, "The loss of life in the unfortunate road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply distressing and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved families."
"I have directed the local administration to provide prompt and adequate assistance to the injured and the victims. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed souls a place at His divine feet and to bestow a speedy recovery upon the injured," Adityanath said on X.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak too condoled the loss of lives in the accident.
"The loss of lives resulting from the road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply tragic and heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families," Maurya said.
