Raman Singh Thursday vowed to speed up development in Chhattisgarh, as he took oath as chief minister of India's premier mining state for the third successive term.

 

 The 61-year-old doctor-turned politician took oath at the police parade ground here in the presence of about 25,000 people and almost the entire top leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies – Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiv Sena.

 

 "The journey of development in Chhattisgarh will have more pace in my third innings. I will strive hard for the welfare of 2.55 crore people and will do everything required to put Chhattisgarh as the No.1 ranked state of the country," Raman Singh told newsmen at a crowded press conference.

 

 BJP patriarch L.K. Advani, party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, party chief Rajnath Singh, former party chiefs Nitin Gadkari and M. Venkaiah Naidu, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray attended the programme.

 

 The BJP's chief ministerial candidates of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi, Vasundhara Raje, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Harsh Vardhan, and other leaders like Sushil Kumar Modi, Uma Bharti, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Arjun Munda and Smirti Irani were also presnt.

 

 Former Chhattisgarh chief minister and Congress leader Ajit Jogi was present at the swearing-in ceremony.

 

 Governor Shekhar Dutt administered the oath of office and secrecy to Raman Singh.

 

 The BJP won 49 seats in the 90-member house.

 

 Dutt also hosted a lunch at the Governor House, after the swearing-in ceremony.