DEHRADUN: B C Khanduri, who was credited with leading BJP to a victory in the Assembly elections, was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand along with another party leader who was given cabinet rank.

Governor Sudarshan Agarwal administered the oath of office and secrecy to 72-year-old Khanduri, a retired major general, and Prakash Pant, an MLA from Pithoragarh, at a function attended by former prime minister

A B Vajpayee, BJP chief Rajnath Singh and other top party leaders. A host of sadhus and sants and BJP's actress-turned-MP Hema Malini were also among those attended the function. Earlier, it was speculated that at least half-a-dozen ministers would take oath in today's function. Party sources said an expansion of the council of ministers would be taken at a later date.

Khanduri, the first Garhwali leader to assume the chief ministership in the state, will be the fourth chief minister of the hill state where BJP has 34 seats out of the 69 constituencies which went to polls on February 21. Uttarakhand has a 70-member assembly. BJP has emerged as the single largest party in the hill state with 34 seats out of the 69 constituencies which went to polls.

Uttarkhand has a 70-member Assembly. The BJP has secured the support of three-member Uttarakhand Kranti Dal and two independents.