Akhilesh Yadav sworn in as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW: SP leader Akhilesh Yadav took oath as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday for the first time, after his party gained absolute majority by winning 224 seats in the 403-member assembly.

Akhilesh, 38, is the state's youngest chief minister and his Cabinet is a mix of youth and experience.

He, however, has his task cut out fulfilling the long list of promises made by his party in its poll manifesto.

Samajwadi Party had announced a slew of poll sops, including providing laptops to intermediate pass students, tablet computers to high-school pass outs, allowance to unemployed youths, free treatment to patients suffering from serious ailments and loan waivers for farmers.

Akhilesh will also have to take a call on constituting a commission for taking legal opinion on providing reservation to Muslims and implementing recommendations of the Ranganath Mishra Commission and the Sachar Committee.

The SP leader has said improving law and order situation and rooting out corruption in the state are among his top priorities.

Besides, restoration of student unions in universities and colleges will also be a challenge for him.

Even before taking the reins of the state, the party is under attack from Opposition parties, including outgoing chief minister Mayawati, who has alleged that the law and order situation had deteriorated following declaration of poll results in favour of SP.