Soren changes swearing-in time on astrologer's advice

Forced to give up his chair twice after brief stints as chief minister, Shibu Soren on Wednesday took oath at a 'a very auspicious time' on astrological advice, to ensure that he can serve his full term this time.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief was scheduled to take oath as Jharkhand chief minister in the afternoon, but advanced it by three and half hours on the advice of astrologers, party sources said.

On December 26, after Governor K Sankaranarayanan invited him to form the new government, Soren informed him that he would take the oath on December 30 at 2 pm.

But, on December 28, Soren informed the Raj Bhavan that the oath-taking ceremony should be held at 10:30 am.

Sources said that Soren had served as the chief minister twice earlier, but for very short periods. This time he wanted to rule longer and consulted astrologers, who told him that 10.36 am was 'a very auspicious time' to take the oath for prolonged rule.

Soren was chief minister for the first time from March 2 to March 11, 2005 and for the second time from August 27, 2008 to January 12, 2009.