PM Narendra Modi unable to travel to Jharkhand for Rahuvar Das' swearing-in ceremony

NEW DELHI: Dense fog here today forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah to cancel their visit to Jharkhand to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister-designate Raghuvar Das.

"Was to travel to Jharkhand to attend the oath taking ceremony of Shri Raghubar Das but am unable to do so due to weather conditions," the Prime Minister tweeted.

"I would like to congratulate Shri Raghubar Das on taking over as Jharkhand CM & convey my best wishes to him," he said.

BJP chief Amit Shah was also to travel but could not travel to Ranchi for the swearing-in ceremony due to dense fog in Delhi, BJP media in-charge Shrikant Sharma said

In another tweet, Modi said, "People of Jharkhand voted for stability. I congratulate them & pray that Jharkhand scales new heights of progress in the coming years," he said.

The Prime Minister was scheduled to attend the swearing-in ceremony at Birsa Munda Football Stadium in Ranchi today.

After being elected as BJP's legislature party leader, Das had staked claim to form the tenth government on Friday at the head of BJP/AJSU alliance.

Das would be the sixth individual after Babulal Marandi (once), Arjun Munda (thrice), Shibu Soren (thrice), Madhu Koda (once) and Hemant Soren (once) to be the CM of Jharkhand.

During his election rallies, Modi had repeatedly appealed to the people to vote for a clear majority and prevent political instability in Jharkhand which had seen nine governments in its 14-year history.

BJP and AJSU together won 42 of the total of 81 seats. Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled Chhatisgarh and Uttarakhand---Raman Singh and and Shivraj Singh Chauhan---are among several dignitaries invited to the oath-taking ceremony.