Pushkar Singh Dhami To Return as Uttarakhand CM, Will Take Oath on Wednesday

Pushkar Singh Dhami lost the Khatima seat to Congress candidate Bhuwan Kapri in the 2022 Assembly polls.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

(Photo: PTI)

Pushkar Singh Dhami will be getting a second term as the chief minister of Uttarakhand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said after the legislature party meeting on Monday, 21 March.

Dhami will take oath as the chief minister on 23 March at 3:30pm. Along with him, the cabinet will also be administered the oath.

The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Parade Ground in Dehradun, reported ANI.

"Firstly, I want to thank PM Narendra Modi for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to work as the CM of Uttarakhand for 5 years. We will fulfil all promises, including the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in the state," he was quoted as saying by ANI.

Earlier Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister and BJP's central observer for Uttarakhand, informed that Dhami "has been elected as the Leader of the Legislative Party. I congratulate him, I am confident that under his leadership Uttarakhand will make rapid progress."

Dhami had taken over as CM in July 2021. However, he lost the Khatima seat to Congress candidate Bhuwan Kapri in the 2022 Assembly polls, the results for which were declared on 10 March.

Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Dhami on Monday and said that "Devbhoomi (Uttarakhand) has witnessed fast-paced development and all-round growth" under his leadership.

He tweeted, "Heartiest congratulations Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami ji on being elected as the leader of BJP Legislative Party in Uttarakhand. Under your able leadership, the Devbhoomi has witnessed fast-paced development and all-round growth. My best wishes for all your future endeavours."

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand's newly elected MLAs were sworn-in as members of the Legislative Assembly.

MLAs were administered the oath of office and secrecy by protem speaker Bansidhar Bhagat.

The party's central observers for Uttarakhand Rajnath Singh and Meenakshi Lekhi attended the meeting.

(With inputs from ANI & PTI)