Debananda Konwar sworn in as Bihar Governor

Debananda Konwar (right) being sworn in as new Governor of Bihar by Acting Chief Justice of Patna High Court Shiva Kirti Singh in Patna on June 29, 2009.

Bottom: Governor Debananda Konwar felicitates Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after the ceremony.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui.

Debananda Konwar, 63, was on Monday sworn-inas new Governor of Bihar. Acting Chief Justice of Patna High Court Shiva Kirti Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy to Konwar at a simple function at Raj Bhavan in Patna.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, besides a host of state ministers, judges, Chief Secretary R J M Pillai, Director General of Police D N Gautam attended the ceremony.

State Legislative Council Chairman Arun Kumar and Assembly Speaker Udai Narain Choudhary, were also present at the function.

Konwar, whose appointment as the Governor of Bihar was notified by Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 24, succeeded R L Bhatia whose tenure ended last week.

Konwar, a four-time MLA from Assam, was Finance Minister in the Tarun Gogoi-led ministry. Soon after taking the oath, the Governor and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had a breakfast meeeting for about ten minutes before the latter proceeded to the State Assembly.

The Chief minister had welcomed Konwar's appointment saying it would further bolster the old bond between Assam and Bihar.