Rabri Devi, was sworn in as the first woman Chief Minister of Bihar yesterday amidst chanting of slogans.
As the slogans filled the air, Laloo Prasad Yadav turned around to quip: So soon and so just. Look they have forgotten their mentor. This made the supporters of Laloo Prasad to raise slogans in his favour as well.
Alongwith Rabari Devi, thirteen other legislators were also sworn in by the Governor as cabinet minister. They include Raghunath Jha, Jagdanand Singh, Mahvir Prasad, Illias Hussain, Tulsi Singh, Tulsi Das Mehta, Upendra Prasad Verma, Govardhan Naik, Awadh Bihar Coudhry, Shanti Devi, Jai Prakash Yadav Brij Bihari Prasad and Abdul Bari Sidiqui.
Shanker Prasad Tekriwal whose name was also called could not take the oath since he is in Delhi to file a petition challenging the high courts fuling rejecting the bail application of Yadav.
While the swearing in ceremony was taking place, Rabari Devi after much coaxing from her husband told media persons that she was happy to become the first lady chief minister of Bihar.
All along the Press briefing she was supplemented by her husband, who said that she would complete the job of her husband. Yadav asked the media persons to ask her about the priorities.
Before she could answer, Yadav said that she would cover the flood affected districts and issue necessary orders to the district administration to provide succour to the flood marooned people.
He also requested the media persons not to put tricky questions to her and assured that she would learn the tricks of the trade with the passage of time.
Yadav said that he had no intention to resign but following the issuance of warrant of arrest and the Supreme Court giving a verdict in his favour, and the RJDLP reposing faith in the leadership of Rabari Devi. Yadav said, I have full faith in the judiciary and will never confront it.
The former Bihar Chief Minister against whom warrant of arrests had been issued said that his decision to step down had been welcomed by the AICC president, Sitaram Kesri and Tamil Nadu chief minister, M Karunanidhi.
I have not informed the Prime Minister about my decision to ............ chief minister in making a new Bihar. I am prepared to go to jail lest I am proved guilty by the apex court.
The former chief minister who is engaged in a legal battle ensured that the seat of power remained with family managed to get his wife sworn in as the 26th chief minister of Bihar much to chagrin of senior RJD members. Interestingly Bhola Ram Toofani and Vidya Sagar Nishad against whom warrant of arrest had been issued by the CBI court had not been included in Rabari Devis cabinet.
Rabari Devi born in June 1959 was married to the national president of RJD, Laloo Prasad Yadav in May, 1973. Being a mother of nine children has three brothers and four sisters, she being the eldest. The Bio-Data of the chief minister released by the Public relations of the department said that she is deeply religious and has no caste or communal bias. She is a true patriot and a symbol of India womenhood.
The release said that Rabari Devi had promoted the Unicef projects for universal immunisation and sanitation and several other programmes for the uplift of women and children. She had also taken special interest in the construction of pucca houses for the dalits and other weaker sections of the society.
