Kalyan Singh sworn-in as Rajasthan governor

Jaipur: Veteran BJP leader Kalyan Singh was Thursday sworn-in as the governor of Rajasthan.

Kalyan Singh took the oath of office and secrecy in the name of god in the presence of acting chief justice of Rajasthan High Court Sunil Ambwani at a function held at the Raj Bhavan here.

The veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister took the oath in Hindi.

His supporters shouted slogans of "Jai Shri Ram" while he was taking oath.

Asked about it, Kalyan Singh said: "What's wrong with it?"

However, the Congress criticised the slogans.

A party leader said: "It is really sad that some people are trying to give religious colour to a government function."

After being sworn-in, the new governor inspected a guard of honour presented by the state police.

Kalyan Singh's wife Ramwati and his parliamentarian son Rajveer Singh were also present on the occasion.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, assembly Speaker Kailash Meghwal, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, judges and other officials.

Kalyan Singh was born Jan 5, 1932 at Madhauli village in Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh. He graduated from the DS Degree College in Aligarh.

Kalyan Singh became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh twice in 1991 and then in 1997. He was also Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly.

The BJP leader was elected to the Lok Sabha for two successive terms - 2004 and 2009.

He was chairman of the Lok Sabha's Rural Development Committee and a member of the Committee on Defence.

Kalyan Singh started his legislative career in 1967 as a member of the assembly. He became minister of state for health in 1977. He was elected six times to the assembly from 1985 to 2002.

He was also the BJP's national vice president, as well as the state president and secretary general of the party in Uttar Pradesh.

Kalyan Singh has special interest in reading, kabaddi and tennis.