Akhilesh Yadav to take oath as U P_ CM

Akhilesh Yadav to take oath as Uttar Pradesh CM today

SP leader Akhilesh Yadav is set to take oath as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday for the first time, after his party gained absolute majority by winning 224 seats in the 403-member Assembly.

Akhilesh, 38, will be the state's youngest chief minister and his Cabinet is likely to be a mix of youth and experience.

He, however, will have his task cut out fulfilling the long list of promises made by his party in its poll manifesto.

Samajwadi Party had announced a slew of poll sops, including providing laptops to intermediate pass students, tablet computers to high-school pass outs, allowance to unemployed youths, free treatment to patients suffering from serious ailments and loan waivers for farmers.

Akhilesh will also have to take a call on constituting a commission for taking legal opinion on providing reservation to Muslims and implementing recommendations of the Ranganath Mishra Commission and the Sachar Committee.

The SP leader has said improving law and order situation and rooting out corruption in the state are among his top priorities.

Besides, restoration of student unions in universities and colleges will also be a challenge for him.

Even before taking the reins of the state, the party is under attack from Opposition parties, including outgoing Chief Minister Mayawati, who has alleged that the law and order situation had deteriorated following declaration of poll results in favour of SP.

Meanwhile, elaborate arrangements have been made for Akhilesh's oath taking ceremony, to be held at Lamartinere college ground in Lucknow.

Among those expected to attend the function include BJP leader L K Advani, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, CPM leader Prakash Karat, Jharkhand Vikas Party chief Babulal Marandi, Union minister and TMC leader Sultan Ahmad.

Sahara India head Surbata Rai and industrialist Anil Ambani are also in the list of invitees, party members said.

Though SP has not released list of leaders, who are likely to become ministers in Akhilesh's cabinet, senior party leaders Shivpal Singh Yadav and Mohammad Azam Khan are among those likely to take oath along with him, party sources said.

SP leader in Legislative council Ahmad Hasan, Waqar Ahmad Shah and Arvind Singh Gope are the probable names which have almost been finalised for a ministerial berth, they said.

Besides, young faces including Abhishek Mishra, who won from Lucknow, and Tejnarain Pandey alias Pawan Pandey, who won from Ayodhya, are also being considered for ministerial berths, the sources said.

SP has won 224 seats in the 403-member UP assembly.