BHUBANESWAR, DEC 6: Hemanand Biswal, Orissa PCC president, chosen by the party high command to replace Giridhar Gamang as head of the government, was sworn-in as the state's 16th chief minister here today.Two other members of the outgoing ministry, Basanta Kumar Biswal and Jagannath Patnaik also took oath along with him as cabinet ministers.The governor M M Rajendran administered the oath of office and secrecy to Biswal and the two other ministers at a simple function on the Raj Bhavan lawns.Party sources said that the three-member ministry would be expanded before the commencement of the brief winter session of the Assembly beginning on December 10 next.The sources said most of the ministers of the previous Gamang regime were expected to be retained in the new team.Asked about the formation of his full-fledged ministry, Biswal told PTI that he was not in favour of frequent reshuffles and would undertake "minor changes." There were 28 ministers including the chief minister in the previous government.The swearing-in ceremony was attended by outgoing chief minister Gamang, former chief ministers J B Patnaik and Nandini Satpathy, the three AICC emissaries Motilal Vora, Vayalar Ravi and Ramesh Chennithala, camping here for the last five days, and several former ministers.
