New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, along with his 19-member team, was administered oath of office and secrecy by President Pratibha Patil at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Friday evening.
With focus onstability, Manmohan has largely relied on experience andability by bringing informer Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna and retaining trouble-shooterPranab Mukherjee.
Senior ministers in the outgoing Cabinet PChidambaram, A K Antony, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, Kamal Nath and Murli Deoraand leader of Congress ally Mamata Banerjee of Trinamool Congress will all headimportant ministries.Ghulam Nabi Azad and Veerappa Moily are also among those inducted into the Cabinet.
Sushilkumar Shinde, S Jaipal Reddy, Kamal Nath, Vyalar Ravi, Meira Kumar, Murli Deora, Kapil Sibal, Ambika Soni, B K Handique, Anand Sharma and C P Joshi also took oath as ministers.
Friday's swearing-in ceremony will be followed by an expansion of the Council of Ministers, including Cabinet ministers, ministers of state with independent charge as well as other ministers of state next week. The expansion will give due representation to the allies.
Earlier, Farooq Abdullah said the Prime Minister had last night apprised him of the difficulties the Congress is having with the DMK on the issue of cabinet portfolios.
"The Prime Minister was very kind. He spoke to me last night and said about the difficulties they are having with the DMK. They want to sort that out," he told reporters here.
National Conference, a UPA ally, has three MPs while an Independent member from Ladakh has pledged support to the party.
Law Minister H R Bhardwaj, HRD Minister Arjun Singh, Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz and Mines Minister Sis Ram Ola have been left out of the Cabinet.