NEW DELHI, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Naveen Patnaik, the head of regional party Biju Janata Dal (BJD), was on Wednesday sworn in as chief minister of India's eastern state of Odisha for the record fifth consecutive term, officials said.
"Naveen Patnaik was today sworn in as the Chief Minister of Odisha," a senior local government official posted in Bhubaneswar said. "Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal administered the oath of office and secrecy to Patnaik and his council of ministers."
The 72 year-old Patnaik has been at the helm of affairs in the coastal state for an unprecedented 19 years, thus making him one of the longest-serving chief ministers of the coastal state.
Officials said 11 cabinet ministers and nine junior ministers were appointed on Patnaik's recommendation. The new team of ministers will have 10 new faces, officials said.
Patnaik's party BJD won 112 seats in the 147-member Odisha Assembly in the recently concluded local election.
